Which term describes the strategy where males compete for access to reproductively mature partners, potentially leading to infanticide?

The strategy described in the question refers to polygyny, which is a mating system in which a male has exclusive mating rights with multiple females. In contexts where this system is prevalent, males may compete intensely for access to reproductively mature females. This competition can manifest in various ways, including displaying dominance or engaging in aggressive behaviors toward other males.

One key outcome of this competition can be infanticide, which occurs when a new male takes over a social group and eliminates the offspring of previous males. This behavior can serve a reproductive strategy, as it may bring the females back into estrus more quickly, allowing the new male to sire his own offspring sooner.

In contrast, the other options describe different mating systems or behaviors that do not specifically focus on this competitive aspect. Polyandry involves one female mating with multiple males, while mating season refers to a specific time when animals breed rather than the competitive dynamics between males. Male competition, while relevant to the topic, is a more general term and does not encapsulate the specific reproductive strategy denoted by polygyny.