Fitness landscapes, mortality schedules, and mating systems
Acquiring the resources for reproduction comes at the risk of death. After emergence, females of most odonate species gain more mass than males and concomitantly suffer higher mortality rates. Differences in adult mortality rates affect the operational sex ratio. The expected number of future matings for males affects whether males should defend territories or contact guard mates. Where females gain much more mass than males and suffer higher mortality as a result, a male with a mate has a very low expectation of additional matings and should contact guard a mate to maximize reproductive success. When the operational sex ratio is less male-biased, a male with a mate may have additional opportunities to mate and can maximize his reproductive success by territorial behaviour.
Keywords: mortality rate, operational sex ratios, resource acquisition, territoriality, mate guarding
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