Final answer:
Polyandry is the mating system where one female has multiple male partners, as observed in species like the seahorse and the pipefish. It differs from polygyny, where one male mates with multiple females, and allows simultaneous spawning without individual mate selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mating system where one female has many male mates at one time is known as polyandry. Polyandrous mating practices can be observed in species such as the seahorse and the pipefish.
In a polyandrous system, a female may establish a territory to attract multiple males, often in areas where males are abundant. This strategy ensures that every male has the opportunity to mate, which is beneficial particularly when few males are available. Another key point of polyandry is that it allows for many individuals to spawn simultaneously without the need for males and females to find individual mates.
Unlike polygyny, where one male mates with multiple females, polyandry involves one female mating with multiple males. In polygyny, females typically invest heavily in parental care due to the limited involvement of the single male. However, in polyandrous systems, the investment of each male in the offspring can vary.