In many species, males battle for the right to mate with females. Male walruses attack one another with their large tusks. In a breeding season, female walruses will mate with only one male, while powerful males may mate with several females.
How does this help increase the chances of survival of the parents and/or offspring
This behavior increases the chances of survival for both the parents and offspring in a few ways:
1. Competition for mates ensures that only the strongest and fittest males are able to reproduce. This means that the offspring are more likely to inherit advantageous traits from their parents, increasing their chances of survival in a competitive environment.
2. By mating with multiple females, powerful males can increase their overall reproductive success, spreading their genes more widely throughout the population. This diversity in gene pool can help protect against genetic diseases and other threats to survival.
3. By mating with only one male, females can ensure that their offspring receive the best possible genes and care from a strong and dominant mate. This increases the chances of the offspring surviving and thriving in their environment.
Overall, the competitive mating behavior in walruses helps to ensure that the strongest and most genetically fit individuals pass on their genes, increasing the overall fitness and survival chances of the population.