Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 3

TERM – 1^ST TERM

WEEK FOUR

Class: Senior Secondary School 3

Age: 17 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 5 periods each

Date:

Subject: Biology

Topic: REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Define courtship behavior in animals.
2. Identify the types of courtship behavior in animals
3. Explain the types of courtship behavior in animals

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers,

demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

Courtship behavior in animals

Courtship behavior in animals refers to a series of ritualized actions, displays, or interactions between individuals of the same species, typically performed with the intent of attracting a mate and facilitating successful reproduction.

Courtship behaviors in animals vary widely across species. Some common examples include elaborate displays of color or plumage, intricate mating dances, vocalizations, and the exchange of gifts. These behaviors often serve to attract a mate, establish compatibility, and ensure reproductive success. Each species has evolved specific courtship rituals that are adapted to their unique ecological and social contexts.

Types Of Courtship Behaviour In Animals

Different animals exhibit different types of courtship behaviours. They include:

Pairing, Display of color and body parts, Territoriality, Seasonal Migration, Nuptial flight

1. Pairing: This is a situation whereby two animals (male and female) isolate themselves from a group of other colleagues to form a mating pair. That is, they pair up. This pairing up could last for a lifetime or it may be temporary just to enjoying the mating. Examples of Animals that exhibit Pairing are,

i. Pairing in Fish: During the season of breeding, the male fish picks a female fish as a partner. They swim to a quiet portion of the river. The male stimulates the female to lay eggs. As the eggs are laid, the male pours sperms on the eggs for external fertilization to take place.

ii. Pairing in Winged Termites: During breeding season, winged termites, usually a male and a female, pair up. They fly out to form a new colony. In their new habitat, the male mounts the female, mates with her; and fertilized eggs are laid. Eventually, the male termite becomes the king while the female becomes the queen in the newly created colony. Their offsprings form other castes in the colony.

iii. Pairing in Humans:  Man and Woman, after they have attained full maturity, come together as husband and wife, mate and reproduce.

2. Display of color and body part: Display is a complex process that involves series of fixed patterns of movements of attractive exhibitions between mating partners. The following are forms of display in animals,

i. Dancing eg. Humans – Ladies dance erotically a times to 'display' to you.

ii. Singing eg. Humans, birds

iii. Croaking eg. toads

iv. Nest-making eg. birds

v. Production of odour by female to attract the male.

vi. Symbolic feeding of the female to attract the males.

          3. Territoriality: This is a form of behaviour in which a member of species marks out a fixed area and defends it against intruder of the same specie. This pattern of                               behaviour is exhibited by most vertebrates except amphibians.

In most cases, the males establish territories, prior to mating. They may mark out their area by scent markers such as urine or by patrolling along boundaries. Intruding males are chased away by their threat display. If a fight takes place, the males hardly fight each other and the looser is allowed to run away. Females are allowed to enter the territory.

This behaviour ensures the breeding pairs or group obtain adequate food and space. It also ensures that only the fittest individuals breed, passing on their favourable characteristics to their offsprings.  Male fishes, reptiles eg again lizard, birds, and mammals show great deal of territorial behaviour.

4. Seasonal migration: This is the movement of animals from one place to another and may even eventually return return to their original place. Many species of animals migrate with seasons in connection with breeding and escaping unfavourable conditions, examples of Organisms that Exhibit Seasonal Migration are

i. Birds: Some birds eg. cattle egret during the dry season migrate from areas of dryness like desert areas to areas with relative rainfall due to lack of water, food and to escape the unfavourable weather. During the rainy season, they migrate from the areas of rainfall to the dry areas where the conditions are highly favorable for breeding and feeding.

ii. Insects: Some insects like desert locusts migrate from the Northern part of Africa in June towards the south across the sahara to Niger and Mali where it is already rainy season and there is already green grass for food as well as suitable reproduction conditions. Later in the year, around october to November, swarms of desert locusts migrate northwards again from Niger and Mali to northern Africa where conditions for feeding and breeding have again become favourable.

iii. Fish: Many fresh water fish eg. Mud fish migrate from deep to shallow waters before laying their eggs in shallow waters. The young fish are more likely to survive as the water is too shallow for wide animals who are likely to feed on the fish. The migration may be over short distance such as from the middle of a river to its side or a long distance.At the beginning of the rainy season, the mud fish migrate upstream to areas where they spawn. At the beginning of the dry season, they return downstream

5. Nuptial flight: Courtship behavior in termites, particularly during the nuptial flight, involves winged reproductive termites, known as alates, seeking mates to form new colonies. The nuptial flight is a synchronized event where alates from different colonies emerge, often triggered by environmental conditions.

During the nuptial flight, male and female alates engage in a complex courtship ritual. Males typically fly first and release pheromones to attract females. Once a female locates a suitable mate, they pair up, and the male often transfers sperm to the female. After mating, the pair lands, sheds their wings, and begins the process of establishing a new colony.

EVALUATION: 1. What is courtship behavior in animals

2. Mention 4 courtship behaviors in animals
3. Explain 2 behaviors mentioned in 2 above and give examples of animals that exhibit such behavior.

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively