Transcript Dr. Tatina`s Sex Advice

Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice
Gilbert the Peacock
And
Friends
Gilbert the Peacock
Dear Dr. Tatiana,
I have a lousy tail. It’s not
colorful, my eyespots are
pathetic, and hens don’t even
notice me when I put it up.
What should I do?
- Gilbert the Peacock
Dr. Tatiana’s Advice
Join A Gang … Like Your Friends
• Bluehead Wrasse (Coral Reef Fish)
• Males team up to chase a
large male from territory
• Female arrives…
all young males spawn her
Dr. Tatiana’s Advice
Join a Gang … Like Your Friends
• Sea Lions
Group resting after a successful rush
• Biggest male guards
harems and chases
young males away
• Groups will rush
the beach, break up
harems, and mate
with females
Gilbert’s Solution
Join a Lek (group of peacocks)
• Female peacocks want nothing
from males but their sperm
• Leks are organized so females
can choose who they want to
have sex with
• Doesn’t cost her anything,
tough on males
Gilbert’s Friends
What some females find sexy…
• Cyrtocara Eucisnostomus (specific fish)
• Males judged
on tallest
sandcastles
* Fish grows to about four inches, while tallest
sandcastles can be built as long as 40 inches (underwater)
•Takes nearly
two weeks to
build
Gilbert’s Friends
What some females find sexy…
• Hammer Headed Bat
(West Africa)
* Voice box occupies more than half the body cavity
• Females prefer
bats who can
honk loudest
•During breeding
season, males
honk for hours
to get attention
So Why A Lek?
1st Reason
• Females are attracted to groups
rather than males all by themselves
• The larger the lek, the more attractive
to the female (so size matters)
• Peacock leks have room for those who lack
sex appeal (so Gilbert has a chance)
So Why A Lek?
2nd Reason
• Find brothers and half brothers to lek with
• Even if Gilbert never finds a mate, he helps
attract mates by being there
(taking one for the team)
• Since Gilbert and his brothers share genes,
he passes on his genes by helping them pass
on theirs
Peacock Brotherhood
• Peacock brotherhood
recognizes it own when
forming leks
• Secret Society for
peacocks
Gilbert’s Lek
Fraternal Cooperation
Lions are most famous example of
fraternal cooperation
• Lionesses live in family groups and
rear cubs in joint litters (lucky males)
• Larger coalition of lions, longer
they hold on to a pride
• More male cubs = longer future
for coalitions
Fraternal Cooperation
Lionesses have evolved…
• When a female gives birth to a large litter,
there are typically more males born
• When several females give birth in a pride
simultaneously, cubs predominately male
Lion Coalition
Circle of Life
THE END