In some jacana (a bird) species, males take care of the eggs and young, and females compete with each other for territories that contain one to several males. Female jacanas are significantly larger than males. Which of these statements is likely NOT an accurate description of this bird species?
A) Male jacana fitness is primarily limited by the ability to take care of eggs and raise young.
B) Female jacana fitness is limited by the number of males in her territory with which she mates.
C) Variation in reproductive success should be greater in female jacanas than in males.
D) Males and females have equal variation in reproductive success.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In species where one sex competes for mates and the other invests more in parental care, the sex that competes for mates (in this case, females) typically shows greater variation in reproductive success than the sex that provides parental care (males). This is because the competitive sex has the potential to mate with multiple partners, leading to a higher variance in the number of offspring.

In Some Jacana (A Bird) Species, Males Take Care of the Eggs