Advice for the love & struck: think dating and the flood of emotions that come with courtship are reserved for humans? Think again. Science World's advice column helps animals work out their dating dilemmas.(Life science: courtship behavior)

Publication: Science World

Publication Date: 12-JAN-04

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You may think dating is all about dressing up, seeing the latest movie, and impressing that special someone. But for animals, "dating" is serious business.

That's why they turn on the charm. And if their attempts at seduction fail to woo a suitable mate, the animal won't pass on its genes (segment of DNA that codes for specific traits) to offspring.

Animals put a lot of energy into meeting Mr. (or Ms.) Right Mating with just anyone isn't good enough. Picking a strong, healthy partner ups their chances of having kids that are equally healthy. The hope? Their tykes will grow up to have kids of their own, passing their genes to another generation and ensuring the survival of the species. It's like an evolutionary lottery. "Each kid is a gamble. The payoff is successful kids and grandkids. If a kid dies without having grandkids, then it was an investment with no payoff," explains biologist Alex Ophir of McMaster University.

Attempting to meet a mate--what scientists call courtship behavior--can make animals act pretty weird. Just look at the following letters from some love struck animals.

POLAR BEAR BLUES

Dear Science World:

A bully just beat me up. What's worse, I was still licking my wounds when my girlfriend left me--for him! Do tough guys always get the girl?

--Bruised and...

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