Question

Which of the following is/are related to female mate choice?

1) A male Drosophila with giant sperm.
2) An enormous male elephant seal with a large harem of females.
3) Male katydids producing large spermatophores.
4) Male giant waterbugs with rows of eggs glued onto their backs.
5) All of the above.
6) None of the above.

Answer 1

Female mate choice is related to adaptive male selection behaviors in certain species, where resource-depleted males may select larger, more fecund females to maximize reproductive efficiency, particularly observed in male Drosophila and katydids.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of female mate choice is related to options 1) A male Drosophila with giant sperm and 3) Male katydids producing large spermatophores, because both examples demonstrate male selection behavior that increases reproductive efficiency. Option 2) An enormous male elephant seal with a large harem of females, and 4) Male giant waterbugs with rows of eggs glued onto their backs, are related to male dominance and parental care respectively, and do not directly relate to female mate choice.

Research notes that resource-depleted male fruit flies, which are males with depleted sperm resources, would preferentially select larger, more fecund females. These findings highlight the profound impact of internal physiological state on mating behavior, particularly when reproductive resources are limited, making this strategic behavior essential to maximize the transmission of genes to subsequent generations.