polygamy
Quick Summary
In animal behavior, polygamy refers to mating systems where one individual mates with multiple partners. This can occur in several forms: polygyny, where one male mates with multiple females; polyandry, where one female mates with multiple males; and polygynandry, where multiple males and females form stable breeding groups.
The prevalence of polygyny, particularly in mammals, is often linked to the male's lower investment in parental care compared to females, who invest more in eggs and offspring. This allows males to increase their reproductive success by mating with multiple females. While sexual selection is a dominant factor in polygamous species, leading to higher male mortality, monogamy is favored when environmental resources are limited and parental care from both parents is crucial for offspring survival.1
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animal social behaviorSocial interactions involving sexAlthough polygamy also involves mating with multiple partners, it often refers to cases in which individuals form relatively stable associations with two or more mates. Most such species exhibit polygyny, in which males have multiple partners. Some examples include the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and houseā¦
Read MoreAlthough polygamy also involves mating with multiple partners, it often refers to cases in which individuals form relatively stable associations with two or more mates. Most such species exhibit polygyny, in which males have multiple partners. Some examples include the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and houseā¦
Read More- animal social behaviorSocial interactions involving sex
ā¦social monogamy is common and polygamy rare in birds, the converse is true in mammals; a large fraction of mammals are polygamous. Only a handful of mammal species, including most human societies, are socially monogamous.
Read Moreā¦social monogamy is common and polygamy rare in birds, the converse is true in mammals; a large fraction of mammals are polygamous. Only a handful of mammal species, including most human societies, are socially monogamous.
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