- "Sexual selection is a mode of natural selection in which members of one biological sex choose mates of the other sex to mate with (intersexual selection), and compete with members of the same sex for access to members of the opposite sex (intrasexual selection)."
A type of natural selection that concerns the traits that make individuals more likely to obtain mates and reproduce.
Sexual dimorphism: Differences between males and females of a species in physical characteristics or behavior, often related to mate selection.
Parental investment theory: The idea that the sex that invests the most in offspring (usually females) will be more selective about choosing a mate, while the other sex (usually males) will compete for access to high-quality mates.
Mating preferences: The traits or behaviors that individuals find attractive in potential mates, which may vary across cultures and over time.
Sexual conflict: The tension that arises when the interests of males and females in a species are not aligned, such as when one sex benefits from multiple partners and the other sex benefits from being more selective.
Mate choice copying: The phenomenon in which individuals are more likely to choose a mate who has already been chosen by others, often as a result of social or cultural pressure.
Evolutionary psychology of attraction: The study of the cognitive and emotional processes involved in selecting and attracting a mate.
The role of hormones in mate selection: The ways in which hormones such as testosterone and estrogen influence sexual behavior and attraction.
Sexual selection and human evolution: The ways in which sexual selection has shaped the physical and behavioral traits of humans over time.
The impact of culture on sexual selection: The ways in which cultural norms and expectations can shape mate selection and reproductive behavior.
The relationship between sexual selection and genetic diversity: The ways in which sexual selection can help maintain genetic diversity within a species.
Intrasexual selection: This form of sexual selection describes the process in which individuals of the same sex compete for access to mate. This type of competition involves individuals engaging in acts of aggression, physical dominance, intimidation, and fighting.
Intersexual selection: This form of sexual selection describes the preference of one sex (usually females) for certain characteristics that members of the opposite sex possess. These characteristics may include physical traits, such as height, strength, and intelligence, or behavioral traits such as kindness, understanding, and generosity.
Artificial selection: This form of sexual selection is created through human interventions, such as domestication of animals, which results in the selection of specific physical or behavioral characteristics. Humans have selectively bred plants and animals for specific traits such as produce yield, meat quality, or coat color.
Behavioral selection: This form of sexual selection involves individuals selecting mates based on a certain behavior. For example, males may perform elaborate courtship rituals to attract females, or females may prefer males who exhibit parental care towards their offspring.
Kin selection: Kin selection selects which individual to mate with based on their relationship with them. This selection could be based on proximity or blood relation.
Fertility selection: Selecting an individual mate with high fertility traits (i.e., healthy, young-looking, good body composition) that suggest they will produce healthy offspring.
Sensory selection: This selection occurs when individuals are attracted to organisms due to a specific sensory characteristic like the smell of pheromones, visual features of body markings, or even ultrasound vocalizations.
- "These two forms of selection mean that some individuals have greater reproductive success than others within a population."
- "For example, because they are more attractive or prefer more attractive partners to produce offspring."
- "Successful males benefit from frequent mating and monopolizing access to one or more fertile females."
- "Females can maximize the return on the energy they invest in reproduction by selecting and mating with the best males."
- "The concept was first articulated by Charles Darwin."
- "Charles Darwin wrote of a 'second agency' other than natural selection, in which competition between mate candidates could lead to speciation."
- "The theory was given a mathematical basis by Ronald Fisher in the early 20th century."
- "Sexual selection can lead males to extreme efforts to demonstrate their fitness to be chosen by females, producing sexual dimorphism in secondary sexual characteristics."
- "Depending on the species, these rules [of sexual selection] can be reversed."
- "This is caused by a positive feedback mechanism known as a Fisherian runaway."
- "Where the passing-on of the desire for a trait in one sex is as important as having the trait in the other sex in producing the runaway effect."
- "Although the sexy son hypothesis indicates that females would prefer male offspring..."
- "Fisher's principle explains why the sex ratio is most often 1:1."
- "Sexual selection is widely distributed in the animal kingdom."
- "Sexual selection is also found in plants and fungi."