mating system


mating system

The manner in which a group of genetically compatible, sexually dimorphous higher organisms is structured vis-à-vis mating behaviour. Such systems determine which males—i.e., alpha males vs omega males—mate with which females, and whether males from outside of the group (interlopers) can mate with the group’s females.
Mating systems
• Monogamy.
• Polygamy:
— Polygyny;
— Polyandry;
— Polygynandry.
• Promiscuity.

mating system

the social relationship between the sexes during the breeding cycle that ranges from pair formation to forms of polygamy. The pattern of mating can be RANDOM MATING or ASSORTATIVE MATING.