Based on the evidence provided, what is the most likely mating system of this salamander species?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To determine the most likely mating system from the evidence, we must compare the typical patterns associated with each option.
Option a: Equal promiscuity (both sexes equally mate with multiple partners). This would imply that males and females have similar rates of multiple mating, leading to a fairly uniform distribution of mating effort across sexes. If the evidence indicates a strong skew where only a minority of males secure most matings, this option would be unlikely.
Option b: Polyandry (females mate with multiple males, males typically only mate with one female). In polyandrous systems, females have multiple mates but males tend to be exclusive or limited in their mating frequency with a single female. If the data show males achieving matings with several females or a high variance in male reproductive success, this option would not fit well.
Option c: Polygyny (few males mate with multiple females, many males do not mate). This pattern predicts a strong male–biased variance in mating success, with a small number of males siring offspring with multiple females while many males fail to mate. If the evidence points to a skewed opportunity for reproduction favoring a few males, this is the most consistent choice.
Option d: Strict monogamy (one male mates exclusively with one female). This would produce near-equal pairings and little to no skew in reproductive success between individuals. If the data show multiple mating opportunities or extra-pair copulations, monogamy would be contradicted.
Putting these together, the description that matches a scenario where only a subset of males achieve matings with several females, and the majority of males do not mate, aligns with a polygynous system rather than the other options. The alternative patterns require either equal mating success, female-driven polyandry, or exclusive one-to-one pairings, which are not supported by the provided evidence. Thus, the reasoning supports selecting a polygynous interpretation over the alternatives.

Based on the evidence provided, what is the most likely mating system of this salamander species?

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