Practice question · Sort into groups
Sort each behavior by the type of sexual selection it represents.
Groups: Intra-sexual selection · Inter-sexual selection
- Two stags clash antlers for access to females
- A female evaluates male song quality before mating
- Males fight to control a breeding territory
- A peahen chooses among several displaying peacocks
Hints
- Intra-sexual = competition WITHIN one sex; inter-sexual = CHOICE by the other sex.
- Fighting rivals is intra-sexual; being chosen by a mate is inter-sexual.
Show the answer
Intra-sexual selection: Two stags clash antlers for access to females, Males fight to control a breeding territory
Inter-sexual selection: A peahen chooses among several displaying peacocks, A female evaluates male song quality before mating
Why
Combat among same-sex rivals (antler clashes, territory fights) is intra-sexual selection; choice exercised by the opposite sex (peahen choosing, female evaluating song) is inter-sexual selection. Competition-within versus choice-by-the-other-sex is the key distinction.
Practise Mating Systems and Sexual Selection
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