Final answer:
Males lower the reproductive success of competitors through strategies like being selective in choosing larger, more fecund females when sperm-depleted or through sexual conflict and selective culling in species like toads. These approaches are meant to maximize the chances of passing on their genes within the limitations of their physiological states or environmental conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Males can typically lower the reproductive success of competitors through various strategies, which are often species-specific and influenced by physiological state and behavior. In the animal kingdom, reproductive strategies are vital for passing on genes to the next generation. Male competition can take different forms depending on the species and the environmental context. For instance, sperm-depleted males often prefer mating with larger, more fecund females to maximize the odds of reproductive success with the limited number of matings they can perform before replenishing their sperm.
In lions, young male lions that reach sexual maturity are expelled from their pride, and alleles can change in the gene pool through various mechanisms when they form new coalitions or take over another pride. Other males, like toads, may engage in behaviors that directly impact competitors, such as culling tactics or engaging in sexual conflict that reduces the survival rates of the remaining females, affecting the reproductive success of their competitors.