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Related Concept Videos

Mate Choice01:20

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Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
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Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
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Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
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Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

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The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
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In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.  
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Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Inducing Pseudopregnancy in Female Mice Without the Need for Vasectomized Males Prior to Non-Surgical Embryo Transfer or Artificial Insemination
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Male alternative reproductive tactics.

Matthew C Kustra1, Suzanne H Alonzo2

  • 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|July 22, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Alternative reproductive tactics allow individuals, typically males, to adopt varied mating strategies. These can be genetically determined or develop through phenotypic plasticity, enhancing reproductive success.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Reproductive success is a key driver of natural selection.
  • Mating strategies can vary within a population, influencing evolutionary trajectories.
  • Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to adjust traits in response to environmental cues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and define the concept of alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs).
  • To explore the genetic and plastic bases of ARTs.
  • To highlight the significance of ARTs in understanding mating systems and evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual review and synthesis of existing research on ARTs.
  • Discussion of genetic mechanisms underlying ARTs.
  • Examination of the role of phenotypic plasticity in ART expression.

Main Results:

  • ARTs involve diverse phenotypes and behaviors for mating within a population.
  • These tactics can be influenced by genetic predisposition.
  • Environmental factors and plasticity also play a crucial role in the development of ARTs.

Conclusions:

  • ARTs represent a significant source of variation in mating strategies.
  • Understanding the genetic and plastic underpinnings of ARTs is essential for evolutionary studies.
  • ARTs contribute to the complexity of social behavior and reproductive success in natural populations.