Anisogamy- Intersexual/Intrasexual Selection

ANISOGAMY- Refers to the study of gamates, Male Sperm and the Female Egg.

SPERM- Produced in a high quantity, easily and there is no limit.

EGGS- are a limited resource which takes longer to produce and less readily available.

Small in size and don't need a lot of energy to produce.

Large in size and are static

This has influence on human reproductive behaviour. Women have to be more selective about who they mate with.

There is a greater quantity of fertile males that there is women. This effects mating behaviour because there is greater competition.

INTRASEXUAL SELECTION

INTERSEXUAL SELECTION

There is more emphasis on the women being more choosy with mating preferences, because they often hold greater responsibilities for the offspring.

Whereas; males feature more quantity over quality because they want to produce as much offspring as possible.

However, there is competition for mates, therefore size matters and the larger males often get to reproduce more.

This leads males to favour youthful females with fertile characteristics (smaller waist)

Females desire fit males, who are able to pass on the best characteristics to their offspring. Therefore- taller, males are seen as more attractive.

SEXY SONS HYPOTHESIS

Runaway theory