Animal mating rituals - pure instinct or evoulution?

Question

In other words, has the process evolved from many attempts at social interaction with the opposite sex and the most successful survived on, repeated enough so it is "hardwired" from birth, or is it purely instinctive, with every animal from the entire species performing the same ritual since they evolved?

(im not sure i`m explaining myself too well!)

Answer 1

Great question! The short answer is that, yes, mating rituals evolved. But evolution refers only to genetic changes in a population over time. Many different processes can cause evolution.

The most familiar process, natural selection, refers to certain individuals having a higher survival rate than others, and consequently spreading the traits that made them such good survivors into the next generation. Sexual selection is a similar process, but it involves the higher reproductive rate of individuals, not just their higher survival rate.

Genetic drift, on the other hand, refers to genetic change that happens simply because of chance. Sometimes a trait spreads through a population not because of any special benefit it confers, but simply because the individuals that had it happened to reproduce more than individuals who didn't have it.

As a result of sexual selection, mate choice can cause certain traits to spread through a population. If females innately prefer males who hop around a lot, then it stands to reason that hopping males will get lots of action, and future generations will have more hoppers. If, on top of that, females have an innate preference for males that hop around in a cirlce over males that hop in one place, then you'll see lots of circle hoppers show up over time. That's sexual selection.

But what caused that innate female preference to be there in the first place? That's where natural selection and genetic drift come into play.

Some scientists argue that the seemingly random behaviors and traits that drive mate choice are indicators of "good genes." In other words, the same genes that allow males to perform these elaborate rituals show that they are strong, healthy, resourceful, disease-free, or some other great quality that relates to how well they (and their offspring) are set up for survival. That explanation, known as the "good genes" hypothesis, ties sexual selection to natural selection underpinnings. A similar argument supposes that some mating rituals (or attractive body parts, such as a peacock's tail) are so costly to an individual's survival that they become evidence of strength. "Look at my ludicrously elaborate feathers, which attract predators and cost developmental energy! If I can afford to carry them around and still manage to survive, then I must be marvolously fit!"

Some other scientists argue that the initial preferences are more arbitrary. A trait might become preferred by genetic drift (just by chance), but once the preference is in place, sexual selection causes it to spread. Even if the trait does nothing to help an individual survive, it will be attractive to mates, so choosing a mate with that attractive trait ensures that your offspring, too, will be attractive. This is called the "sexy son" hypothesis (seriously.)

Genetic drift may also play a role in establishing preferences through "sensory bias." This argues that certain females may have an innate preference for a certain stimulus, such as the color blue, just by chance. Males that happen to acquire blue scales, blue skin or blue feathers will benefit from this innate preference, even though it is unconnected to any other benefit.

Sexual selection in the form of mate choice is happening in every instance, but the initial preference behind mate choice could relate to natural selection or genetic drift. The jury is still out about which of those has the greater effect. (It could be a little of both, of course.)

For a great recap, check out this article: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~jm703496/es-ssbrd.html

Answer 2

It depends on the animal group involved. Some insects are attracted to the opposite sex by chemical pheromones which only that species produces, so to that extent it is hardwired; however the production of a specific pheromone was arrived at by evolution, so there is a bit of both.

If the young of some species are raised by another, something which has been particularly been studied in ducks for example, then the 'adopted' individual will understand the mating signals of the parents and as an adult will try to mate with an individual of the wrong species, but will usually be rejected as the potential mate will recognise it as a different species. In this case mating rituals have evolved but individuals have to learn them, but there is still some hardwiring that allows rejection of the 'wrong' mates.

Finally, there are examples of crossing of different species e.g. horse and donkey, lion and tiger, sheep and goat etc. This usually occurs under duress, but demonstrates that even distinct species share enough of a common mating ritual that they can overcome their natural behaviour which would be to avoid members of a different species.

It is complicated but basically all mating systems have evolved - once they are completely exclusive of all other species through chemical or behavioural isolation you might say that they have become hardwired in that all other species will be ignored, however most remain flexibile to some extent and some learning is often involved.

Answer 3

Don't give animals too much credit. They are not that smart. Most dogs and cats would starve to death even though a bag of food was just inside a cabinet. And they have yet to learn how to use a can opener or the faucet. It is purely instinct. The female comes in season, the male, or males mate. Then forget about it. Men and women are the only ones that do it for fun.

Answer 4

i would say yea, hardwired from birth, Let us know if you find out different though!

Answer 5

what the same way humans do hahaha