Alternative mating strategy
[3] Most typically, alternative strategies will be adopted in the face of competition within a sex, especially in species that mate multiply.
In many cases, the coexistence of alternative and traditional mating strategies will both maximize the average fitness of the sex in question and be evolutionarily stable for a population.
Under changing circumstances, the existence of a variety of strategies allows individuals to choose the conditional behaviour that will currently maximize their fitness.
More specifically, varying levels of reproductive success will select for phenotypes and strategies that maximize an animal's chance of obtaining a mate.
[3] The resulting variance in male fitness creates a niche in which alternative strategies may develop, such as sneaking to obtain a mate.
[3] Alternative behaviours are maintained through frequency-dependent selection because of their equal fitness benefits and functional equivalence.
Similarly, negative frequency-dependent selection describes a scenario in which rarer phenotypes experience greater fitness.
This describes a conditional strategy in which the fitness of alternative phenotypes depend on the status, or competitive ability, of an individual.
Status includes environmental and genetic factors as well as age and size, and determines the level of fitness that may be obtained from a given phenotype.
As shown in Figure 1, the fitness benefits of a given phenotype vary based on whether an individual is of high or low status.
In a case where two phenotypes and strategies are possible, such as mate guarding or sneaking, there will be an intermediate point of intersection where the fitness gained from these alternative behaviours will be equivalent.
Such a model shows how individuals of lesser status or competitive ability may maximize their fitness by exhibiting an alternative phenotype.
In this manner, these selective forces will maintain the phenotypic diversity observed among animals with respect to mating behaviour, though strategies utilized will depend on a variety of circumstances.
Considering the current environmental conditions, the surroundings, and the size of the tree, the wolf will decide between the tactics dictated by its strategy.
Developmentally driven strategies are associated with phenotypic differences caused by varying conditions during the course of development that affect body size or overall adult health.
Individuals may also have a conditional behaviour strategy that depends not on the genetic or developmental impact on one's life circumstance, but on external factors.
Additionally, some mating strategies will be impacted by the interaction of multiple factors, so these categorizations of Mendelian, developmental, and conditional are not mutually exclusive.
[6] The diversity of mating strategies within animal populations may be understood through evolutionary game theory concepts that assess the costs and benefits of reproductive decision-making.
The Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS) concept provides a particularly useful framework for considering alternative behaviours as they relate to fitness.
[1] In contrast, a mixed strategy describes a scenario involving the probabilistic expression of behaviours among individuals.
[1] 2: sneak or female mimicry 2: sneak 2: court and give nuptial gift of nutrient-rich saliva 3: force copulate It has long been known that males in a wide variety of animal populations practice alternative mating strategies in order to maximize their reproductive fitness.
[12] Horned beetles (Onthophagus acuminatus) demonstrate alternative mating strategies due to different nutritious conditions during development that affect adult body size.
Those who develop long horns will practice mate guarding, protecting the entrance to the tunnel in which a female is resting or feeding.
[3] Pygmy swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus males offer another example of alternative mating strategies.
This is a high risk tactic, as they have a chance of being killed or injured by the larger blue claw males with a limited success rate of achieving fertilization.
[15] With regard to their throat color, the males of the common side-blotched lizard can also be distinguished into three morphotypes which compete against each other for reproduction.
[17][18] The cuckolder sunfish are much less dominant than the parental males and tend to revert to alternative mating strategies including sneaking or female mimicry.
These individuals adopt a sneaking strategy and rely on their small body size to enter harems undetected and remain in them while they seek mating opportunities.
[7] The subtle nature of female competition makes alternative behaviours very difficult to study relative to males.
[24] Although the female is often immediately chased out, this behaviour serves as evidence that sneaking is not just an alternative male strategy.
