Courtship Displays by William McColl [STUDENT]

Courtship Displays

william_224558 — 2018-04-18 15:49:30 UTC

Characteristics

william_224558 — 2018-04-18 16:01:46 UTC

As with other elements of an organism's lifestyle, courtship displays have some characteristics. Essentially, they are characterized by some sort of display by an individual to show their interest in mating, to attract an individual of the same species, and sometimes, to discourage predators or rivals. Typically, this may entail some sort of bright coloration on the body, the release of chemicals, calling or singing, and communicating with one another. A combination of all of the above could even be used to attract a potential mate. One example of this would be the bird you see to the right. He has a bright coloration all over his body to make him easier to see to another individual.

Adaptations

william_224558 — 2018-04-20 00:09:51 UTC

Over time, these courtship displays have become an adaptation through natural selection. The definition of natural selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. When keeping this in mind, the whole idea of courtship displays make sense. Courtship displays are an advantageous asset for birds, because it increases the likelihood of reproduction. For example, if a bird has bright colors, it is an indicator to a female that the bird will pass on good genes that may help her offspring. Here, bright coloration would be favorable, because it allows the birds to better reproduce offspring.

Personal Statement

william_224558 — 2018-04-20 00:36:32 UTC

In my opinion, the benefits of social behavior among species are numerous. Social behavior, such as acting as a herd or group, allows the individual to avoid predation. In terms of courtship displays, they promote mating and genetic diversity, as some individuals have colors or calls specific to them. I think that social behavior is vital to the well-being of the ecosystem, and even to each respective species. The benefits, i.e. finding a mate, vastly outweigh the negatives, which may include being easier to see by prey.

Sources

william_224558 — 2018-04-20 00:37:07 UTC

Kateman, B. (December 1, 2010). "Courtship Rituals in the Animal World." Retrieved from <http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/12/01/courtship-rituals-in-the-animal-world/>.

"Courtship Display." (2018). Retrieved from <http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/adaptations/Courtship_display>.