Selection arising from competition for mates or mate choice, creating traits like peacock tails.
Intrasexual selection means competition within a sex (antlers, fighting) and intersexual selection means mate choice (bright plumage, songs). Traits can reduce survival but increase mating success. The handicap principle suggests costly signals are honest.
It often drives sexual dimorphism.
Selection arising from competition for mates or mate choice, creating traits like peacock tails.
Sexual Selection is one of the 53 topics in Evolution. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Artificial Selection, Fitness, Sympatric Speciation.
Male peacock tail length is correlated with mating success.
Work through the Beginner topics in Evolution first, such as Evolution, Natural Selection, Charles Darwin, then return to Sexual Selection. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Sexual Selection are Artificial Selection, Fitness, Sympatric Speciation, Variation and Selection Pressure. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Sexual Selection. To practise the whole of Evolution, use the Evolution quiz.
Sexual Selection: Selection arising from competition for mates or mate choice, creating traits like peacock tails. Artificial Selection: Humans breed organisms with desired traits, creating crops and dog breeds from wild ancestors. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Artificial Selection and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Evolution quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Humans breed organisms with desired traits, creating crops and dog breeds from wild ancestors.
🦎 EvolutionAn organism's relative contribution of offspring to the next generation.
🦎 EvolutionNew species arising within the same area, often through polyploidy or ecological specialisation.
🦎 EvolutionEnvironmental factors like predators or climate that favour certain heritable variants over others.
🦎 Evolution