Courtship Behavior
Laura Armstrong & Joe Wolfensohn
Teachers
Contents
Recall Questions
This topic requires prior knowledge related to your understanding of species. You can test your knowledge on this below.
What is the biological definition of a species?
A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile.
Why is successful reproduction important for a species?
Successful reproduction ensures the continuation of a species by passing on alleles to the next generation and maintaining genetic diversity.
Topic Explainer Video
Check out this @LauraDoesBiology video that explains courtship behavior or read the full notes below. Once you've gone through the whole note, try out the practice questions!
Overview of Courtship Behavior
What is Courtship Behaviour?
- Courtship behaviour is a set of behaviours exhibited by animals to attract a mate and ensure successful reproduction.
- It is species-specific, preventing interbreeding between different species and ensuring mating only occurs between members of the same species.
Examples:
- Male peacocks display large, colourful tail feathers to attract female peacocks.
- Frogs produce species-specific mating calls to attract the correct species and a member of the opposite sex.
- Fireflies use unique flashing light patterns to attract mates of their own species.
Why is Courtship Behavior Important?
- Species Recognition: Ensures mating occurs between members of the same species.
- Opposite Sex Recognition: Ensures a member of the opposite sex is attracted for mating.
- Synchronisation of Mating: Helps coordinate mating at the right time when both individuals are fertile.
- Formation of a Pair Bond: Strengthens long-term relationships in species that need parental cooperation for raising offspring- this helps ensure survival of offspring.
- Assessment of Mating Readiness: Helps determine if a potential mate is sexually mature and capable of reproduction.
How is Courtship Behavior Used for Species Recognition?
- Courtship behaviour is genetically determined and species-specific, acting as a reproductive isolating mechanism.
- If courtship signals (e.g., movements, sounds, pheromones) do not match, individuals will not mate, preventing interbreeding between species.
- Closely related species may have similar courtship behaviours but they will not be identical.
- Similar courtship behaviours can indicate that two species may be more closely related and share a more recent common ancestor.
Examples of Courtship Behavior in Different Species
| Species | Courtship Behaviour | Purpose |
| Birds of Paradise | Elaborate dances and feather displays. | Attracts females and demonstrates fitness. |
| Peacocks | Large, colourful tail feathers. | Indicates health and strength. |
| Frogs | Distinct mating calls. | Ensures species recognition. |
| Wolves | Howling and scent marking. | Establishes pair bonds and territory. |
| Bees | Waggle dance to communicate. | Helps locate mates and food sources. |
Key Terms
- Courtship Behaviour: A set of behaviours used to attract a mate and ensure successful reproduction.
- Species Recognition: The ability of individuals to identify and mate only with members of their own species.
- Pair Bond: Long-term relationship between mates that aids in raising offspring.
- Reproductive Isolation: Mechanisms that prevent species from interbreeding, maintaining species integrity.
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Exam Tips
When answering questions on courtship behaviour, always include:
- Its role in species recognition and identification of a member of the opposite sex.
- How it helps ensures successful reproduction.
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Drosophila fruit flies display courtship behaviour. One of the stages of courtship is singing by males. Normally a male will produce a ‘sine song’ and a ‘pulse song’, in which there is continual noise with some louder peaks.
Scientists showed fruit flies a visual stimulus that made them sing. They made recordings of these songs.
The diagram shows the recordings of the songs of three flies over the same time period.
D. erecta and D. willistoni are closely related species but different species.
1. Describe evidence from the diagram that supports this statement. (2 marks)
The scientists repeated their experiments, using female fruit flies as the visual stimulus. When a male and female D. willistoni were together, their songs led to mating.
When two female D. willistoni were together, their songs did not lead to any attempt to mate.
2. Use information from the diagram to suggest why the two females did not attempt to mate. (2 marks)
1. Sine song is similar / same length (for both, so closely related). But they have different peaks / pulses (in pulse song)
2. The peaks in pulse song occur at the same time (since both female) / the songs are identical / male peaks are different
Accept suitable differences in male peaks eg number / length / amplitude / interval
2. Therefore no male song to stimulate / cause mating OR Nothing to stimulate / cause mating.
Practice Question
Try to answer the practice question from the TikTok on your own, then watch the video to see how well you did!