Final answer:
The student's question regarding the graph of male size and mating success relates to sexual selection, with smaller males likely having lower success, medium males varying, and larger males achieving higher mating success, especially shown by resource-depleted males preferring more fecund larger females in a study.
Step-by-step explanation:
The graph comparing male size and the percentage of mating success is likely referencing a study on sexual selection and mating behaviors among certain species. Although the exact values are not provided in the student's question, the study material suggests that upon comparison, small males had a certain level of mating success that tended to be lower, as they may be less competitive or have less opportunities to mate, medium males had a varying level of success potentially due to their moderate competitiveness and opportunity, and large males likely had higher mating success because of their size advantage, greater visibility to females, or their ability to win fights over smaller rivals.
The described studies indicate that non-resource-depleted males preferentially mate with larger females, and this preference is even stronger in resource-depleted males, who prioritize larger and more fecund females to maximize their reproductive success. The term 'fecundity' refers to the reproductive capacity of an individual, with higher fecundity usually seen in larger females who produce more offspring.