COURTSHIP & PAIR BONDS

=Courtship and Pair-Bond Formation= Most animals, even those in groups, keep at a distance from each-other. Invading this personal space is usually interpreted as a threat. Thus mating requires the temporary suppression of aggressive behaviour and a system of communication and species recognition. In many arthropods e.g. spiders, the female has to be appeased so that she does not make the male her wedding breakfast! Males will often compete for mates; this may involve special '''displays, adornments, gifts''' or even '''fighting'''. Penguins often collect small rocks and other materials as gifts for their potential partner to construct a nest. Fighting is usually ritualised so that neither male is seriously injured, but allows the female to judge which male is the ‘fittest’. '''Aggression is reduced by specific dances and calls'''. These can also act to ensure that members are of the same species. [image:http://i.imgur.com/VTxzryib.png] For instance, scorpions lock pincers and perform an intricate dance. During this process the male will deposit a droplet of sperm and guide the female scorpion over it. If the two scorpions are not of the same species, the female will not be impregnated as she won’t be guided over the droplet. Courtship allows the formation of a stable relationship between animals of the opposite sex that ensures co-operative behaviour in mating and the rearing of young. This stable relationship is known as a '''Pair-Bond'''. ''The image below depicts the courtship dance of the blue-footed booby'' [image:http://i.imgur.com/e0MOCYP.gif]