What is sexual selection a form of?

Answer 1

Sexual selection is a concept that can be considered a subset of natural selection. In sexual selection, only the traits that lead to mating success will be passed on to the next generation. In other words, only the males with certain characteristics (most often strength and physical attractiveness) will have the opportunity to mate with the females and pass on their genetic information. Certain males are chosen by the females if they are considered to have superior genetic characteristics that will ensure optimal fitness for their offspring. Thus, the weak or unattractive males will not be able to reproduce.

Mating rituals vary throughout the animal species, but they often include competition between the males and physical displays. Sometimes, in social animals who live in groups, the alpha male who has proven himself to be superior to the other males of the group will be the only one who is allowed to mate with the females.

Sexual selection has resulted in the physical dimorphism between males and females of many species. Males sometimes have larger, more exaggerated, or more colorful physical characteristics, in order to impress the females or for use in mating competitions. A prime example of sexual selection is found in the peafowl. Only the male peacocks have the bright, blue-green plumage that is used to attract female mates. Female peahens have no use for them, so they are a dull brown or grey color.

Answer 2

Sexual selection does not only lead to evolution, it is one of the key aspects of natural selection. Organisms must attract a mate to pass their genes to offspring. If the organism doesn't have favorable traits, then it will have trouble finding a mate to produce offspring. So only potential mates with highly favorable traits will be representative in future generations.

A perfect example of sexual selection is the male peacock. Peacock females developed a desire for large and gaudy tail feathers. So the male peacocks with the largest and gaudiest tail feathers where chosen as mates. The result is the outlandish tail feathers of the peacock that we have today. Sexual selection is probably the most important factor in natural selection as you have to produce offspring for your genes to be represented in the future. A male peacock that would have the best genes for survival would not even have a chance at producing offspring if he did not have the genes for making large tail feathers.

Answer 3

Intrasexual selection is a type of sexual selection, first described by Darwin. Sexual selection is often contrasted with natural selection, but really it is a type of natural selection which has to do with how much mating an individual does. Traits under sexual selection are those that impact the amount and quality of mates one can secure. Intersexual and intrasexual selection are two forms of sexual selection. In intersexual selection, one sex selects on traits in the opposite sex, such as a female cardinal selecting for bright plumage in a male cardinal (females choose the brightest colored male to mate with, and those bright colors, which are under genetic control, are therefore overrepresented in the next generation, and so on). Intrasexual selection is where males within the species select on traits in other males, and females in the species select on other traits in females. An example of intrasexual selection is the selection for larger horns in bighorn sheep. Males use these in competitive one-on-one fights, and the winner usually gets the female. Intrasexual selection is often referred to as having to do with "male-male competition" and intersexual selection is often referred to as having to do with "female choice".

Answer 4

It is important because if males and females of the different species do not like each other's colours or appearances they will only choose ones that look like their own species, and choose not to mate with the other species even if they are compatible.

Answer 5

Sexual selection occurs when certain traits increase mating success and in bed

Answer 6

Sexual selection is a special form of natural selection that leads to traits that attract mates so that reproductive success is garnered that way.