Académique Documents
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Culture Documents
1994
Sexual Selection
Andersson, M. (1994)
Sexual Selection
Monographs in Behavior and Ecology. Princeton University Press
(Paperback; 235x160mm. ISBN: 0-691-03344-7 (CL) - 0-691-
00057-3 (PA). 599 pages.)
“This book is the first attempt to review the theory of sexual selection and evidence
for the appearance of sexual selection in nature since Darwin´s pioneering work, [The
Descent of Man].”
Bright colors, enlarged fins, feather plumes, song, horns, antlers, and tusks are
often highly sex dimorphic. Why have males in many animals evolved more conspicuous
ornaments, signals, and weapons than females? How can such traits evolve although they
may reduce male survival? Such questions promted Darwin´s perhaps most scientifically
controversial idea _the theory of sexual selection. It still challenges researchers today as
they try to understand how competition for mates can favor the variety of sex-dimorphic
traits. Reviewing theoretical and empirical work in this very active field, Malte Andersson, a
leading contributor himself, provides a major up-to-date synthesis of sexual selection.
The author describes the theory and its recent development; examines models,
methods, and empirical tests; and identifies many unsolved problems. Among the topics
discussed are the selection and evolution of mating preferences; relations between sexual
selection and speciation; constraints on sexual selection; and sex differences in signals,
body size, and weapons. The rapidly growing study of sexual selection in plants is also
reviewed. This volume will interest students, teachers, and researchers in behavioral
ecology and evolutionary biology.
CONTENTS
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
4 Empirical Methods 80
4.1 Introduction 80
4.2 Observations and Experiments 81
4.3 Trends among Species: Comparative Approaches 83
Qualitative Traits; Quantitative Traits
4.4 Meassures of Sexual Selection 89
4.5 Selection of Quantitative, Correlated Traits 91
Theory; Example: Sexual Selection in Darwin Finches
4.6 Summary 98
10 Constraints 227
10.1 Predation 227
Male Blas in the Prey of Predators; Visual Signal;
Acoustic Signals; Pheromones; Other Sexuallly Selected
Behavior; Evolutionary Consequences of Predation on
Males
10.2 Other Mortality in Sexually Competing Males 235
10.3 Other Costs of Sexually Selected Traits 237
10.4 Physiological Constraints 238
10.5 Sexual Selection in Relation to Life History 241
Reproductive Effort; Sexual Bimaturism
10.6 Genetic Constraints 244
10.7 Sensory Bias and Constraints 245
10.8 Summary 246
12 Weapons 295
12.1 Introduction 295
12.2 Mammals 295
Weapons for Defense against Predators; Weapons
Used against Rivals; Display Of Strength and Vigor
to Other Males; Female Choice in Relation to Male
Weapons; The Evolution of Horns in Ungulates;
Large Male Weapons in Pleistocene Mammals;
Allometric Relationships
12.3 Avian Spurs 308
12.4 Beetle Horns and Other Arthropod Weapons 309
12.5 Summary 314
References 445