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Alternative mating strategies

The variety of mating behaviors observed in animals is truly amazing. Obviously, there isn't any one "best" mating system or strategy. Different mating strategies each have their advantages and disadvantages. Why does one sometimes work best, and at other times, another mating strategy?

Evolutionary biologists seek to discover what kinds of situations or conditions favor these different behaviors. In other words, what works in one situation may be detrimental in a different setup. The assumption is that the particular type of behavior is there for a reason.

Situations where different mating behaviors are observed in the same species are ideal for investigating what influences those behaviors. By working within one species, you automatically control for factors (such as differences in evolutionary history) that can confound comparisons across species. In the case of the different copulation durations observed in the walnut flies, we have such a golden opportunity.

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