Final answer:
Female alliances against sexual coercion are observed in certain primate species and lion prides. Also, in sex-role reversed species like the spotted sandpiper, females may be more competitive and form alliances. Monogamous systems with significant parental care by males, such as in gray wolves and birds, also demonstrate cooperative dynamics between genders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the animal kingdom, strategies to cope with mating pressures and sexual coercion vary significantly. A notable example of female alliances is observed among certain primate species. These females band together to counteract sexual coercion by favoring mates who are friendly and cooperative over those who are aggressive or dominant. Such social strategies highlight the importance of cooperation in primate societies, challenging the traditional view of competition as the primary driver of social interactions.
Another example of animal species that form female alliances can be seen in lion prides. Female lions work cooperatively during hunts and share the food, while male lions defend the pride. Notably, this cooperative behavior among females extends beyond hunting, as it helps defend against male coercion and manage internal social dynamics of the pride.
In sex-role reversed species, such as the spotted sandpiper and certain fish like seahorses and pipefish, females may exhibit behaviors typically associated with male strategies, such as engaging in polyandrous mating systems and defending territories. In these cases, females are likely to be more competitive due to a greater variance in reproductive success, which may also influence the formation of alliances against sexual coercion.
Cooperation is also seen in monogamous systems such as gray wolves and many bird species where males provide significant parental care, which is beneficial for the survival of the offspring. The evolution of such systems is explained by theories like the mate-guarding hypothesis, the male-assistance hypothesis, and the female-enforcement hypothesis, each of which underscores different aspects of the cooperative dynamic between males and females in efforts to maximize reproductive success.
Overall, courtship behaviors, territorial defense, and cooperative strategies form integral parts of mating systems that impact the balance between male competition and female choice, often leading to the formation of female alliances in response to sexual coercion.