Mechanisms of Mate Attraction

Sexual reproduction requires the congregation of eggs and sperm. Achieving this requires some evolved creativity if a species is unwilling to throw caution to the wind – literally – and let the weather or the tides dictate fertilization success. Many clades of angiosperms, for example, coerce mobile pollinators to directly transport pollen among individuals by providing attractive flowers and/or enticing nutritious snacks. The process of attracting pollinators is analogous to the elaborate behaviors that mobile animals evolved to attract mates. These court-ship rituals, often unique to a species, use combinations of signals to gain attention – including use of colors, various anatomical structures, chemicals, songs, and dances – allowing each individual to decide how to invest in reproductive success.