Question

Which of the following is true about parental investment?

a) Males are more selective about with whom they choose to mate than females.
b) Males of many species are free to mate with as many females as they can.
c) Investment in selecting a mate is larger for males than for females.
d) Males select mates who are more likely to be good parents.

Answer 1

The correct statement about parental investment is that males are often free to mate with multiple females. Females tend to be more selective because they invest more in offspring, while males may invest in courtship displays or colorful plumage without necessarily assisting in parental care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement about parental investment is that males of many species are free to mate with as many females as they can. Female selectivity is often higher than that of males because females usually invest more energy in the production and development of offspring. Males, on the other hand, may participate in various courtship displays or develop colorful plumage to attract females for mating. However, these strategies do not necessarily correlate with male assistance in parental care.

For instance, in species where males engage in elaborate courtship rituals or possess colorful plumage, the expended energy might leave less available for long-term parental care. In such cases, male parental care may be less frequent. On the other hand, when males choose mates, they might prefer those with certain qualities, like larger size, which could indicate higher fecundity and thus a higher likelihood of producing more offspring, as indicated by the studies performed in 2006.