1. Monogamous mating system: This mating system refers to animals that form long-term, exclusive pair bonds between one male and one female. The macaroni penguin is an example of a species that engages in monogamous mating, where individuals mate for life. Monogamous mating systems are found in a wide variety of animals, including birds, mammals, and some reptiles and fish.
2. Polygamous mating system: This mating system refers to animals that have multiple mating partners, either simultaneously or sequentially. An example of a species that engages in polygamous mating is the lion, where males have multiple female partners. Polygamous mating systems are common in many species, including mammals, birds, and insects.
Different mating systems exist because different environments and selection pressures have favored different strategies. Monogamous mating systems are found in species that experience high parental investment, low population density, and low availability of mates. These conditions increase the chance that the offspring will survive. In contrast, polygamous mating systems are found in species that experience low parental investment, high population density, and high availability of mates. These conditions increase the chance that the individual reproduces successfully.
Another important factor is the reproductive success of the males, in polygamous mating systems, males reproduce much more than in monogamous systems, where the rate of reproduction is shared between the male and the female, which also affects the genetic variation of the population.