Final answer:
Males with limited reproductive resources, such as sperm-depleted males, engage in selective mating behaviors with larger, more fecund females to maximize their reproductive success, an aspect studied in behavioral biology or ethology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Limited factors for reproductive success in certain species can be observed in how males select females to mate with, especially when considering prior matings and the physiological state of the males. A study from 2006 highlighted a behavior where sperm-depleted males would preferentially mate with larger, more fecund females. This strategic selection is due to these females' higher potential for producing offspring, thus maximizing the males' chances for reproductive success when their ability to mate is constrained by sperm availability. Additionally, sexual dimorphism, which varies among species, plays a role in reproductive success due to the differences in size, strength, and ornamentation that may give some males an advantage in attracting mates. Such behavior demonstrates the importance of energy budgeting in reproductive strategies and is an aspect of the discipline known as behavioral biology or ethology, which is an interplay between population biology and psychology.