How would self- sacrifice of male redback spiders be an adaptive behaviour?
A) Males are able to mate with one female, then mate with another female nearby, before being devoured by the first female.
B) The chance of a male meeting more than one female is quite low; self- sacrifice maximizes mating time with and sperm transfer to any female the male finds.
C) Males only use self- sacrificing behaviour once they have mated with several females and have exhausted their sperm supplies.
D) When males meet a female and self- sacrifice, it activates enzymes that make his sperm more fit and able to fertilize more eggs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Male redback spiders engage in self-sacrifice by willingly allowing the female to consume them during or after mating. This behavior is adaptive because the chances of a male encountering more than one female are relatively low, so sacrificing himself to maximize mating time and sperm transfer with any female he finds increases his reproductive success. This behavior allows the male to transfer as much sperm as possible while avoiding potential competition from other males.

How Would Self- Sacrifice of Male Redback Spiders Be an Adaptive