Linn and Colleagues (2007) Allowed Members of Male-Female Dyads of Orb-Weaving

Multiple Choice

Linn and colleagues (2007) allowed members of male-female dyads of orb-weaving spiders to mate for either: (1) two natural copulations, (2) 2 hours, or (3) 48 hours (the natural mating period following the female's molt) . 93% of group 1 females, 90% of group 2 females, and 28% of group 3 females mated with a second male when provided an opportunity to do so. The female's group membership did not influence the number of sperm found in the female's spermathecae. These results support

A) the hypothesis that prolonged mating reduces the chances that the female will be inseminated by another male.
B) the hypothesis that prolonged mating results in more of the male's sperm being transferred to the female.
C) both of the proposed functions of prolonged mating.
D) neither of the proposed functions of prolonged mating.