Question

Two lionesses kill an old gazelle. Just as they begin to eat the gazelle, they are chased away by a male lion, who then proceeds to eat his kill. Which of the following behaviors is illustrated in this example? (male interaction with the two lionesses).

a) Mate guarding
b) Sexual coercion
c) Intrasexual competition
d) Mate choice
e) Altruism

Answer 1

The example of a male lion chasing away two lionesses to eat their kill exemplifies intrasexual competition, where male lions show aggression and dominance over resources and mating rights within a pride.

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior illustrated in the example where two lionesses are chased away by a male lion, who then eats the gazelle they killed, is an example of intrasexual competition. In the context of lion social dynamics, male lions compete with each other for the right to mate with females and control a territory, which can include access to food resources. The male lion asserting dominance over the lionesses and taking the gazelle represents a common form of competition among male lions. The main answer is therefore (c) Intrasexual competition.Male lions live in groups known as prides and once they reach sexual maturity, they often have to leave and contend with one another to lead their own pride. This not only serves as a mechanism for natural selection but can also lead to genetic drift as it changes the allele frequencies within the population. The pride's females hunters cooperate in hunting, but when it comes to mating rights and resources such as food, male lions will often display behaviors such as taking over kills, which underscores the competitive aspect among males.