Question

Male golden orb-weaving spiders insert his sperm-transferring appendages in the openings of females where they stay after the male dies (soon after mating). This way the males secure that his genes, NOT others, are passed to the next generation. What type of behavior is this?

a) Altruism
b) Kin selection
c) Inclusive fitness
d) Sperm competition
e) Territorial behavior

Answer 1

The behavior of male golden orb-weaving spiders dying soon after mating with their sperm-transferring appendages remaining in the female exemplifies sperm competition, not altruism, kin selection, inclusive fitness, or territorial behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The male golden orb-weaving spider's mating behavior, where the male inserts his sperm-transferring appendages into the female and they stay there after his death, is an example of sperm competition. This behavior is a reproductive strategy to ensure that the male's genes have a higher chance of being passed to the next generation, as it prevents other males from mating with that same female. While altruism and kin selection generally involve behaviors that reduce an individual's own fitness to benefit relatives, and inclusive fitness extends this concept to include genetic relatedness, the spider's behavior is geared towards maximizing his own genetic legacy. Territorial behavior, on the other hand, involves defending a space rather than ensuring reproductive success through mate-guarding or posthumous sperm competition. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is d) Sperm competition.