Sexual selection
Sexual Selection
Sexual selection (/sɛkʃuːəl sɪˈlɛkʃən/; from Latin sexus "sex" and selectio "selection") is a mode of natural selection where 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). These two forms of selection mean that some individuals have greater reproductive success than others within a population, either from being more attractive or preferring more attractive partners to produce offspring.
Etymology
The term "sexual selection" was first coined by Darwin in his 1871 book The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. It refers to the process where certain traits become more or less common in a population due to the mating preferences of individuals.
Intersexual Selection
Intersexual selection is the process where individuals of one sex (usually females) are choosy in selecting their mates. The traits that are selected for may be physical, such as the bright plumage of male peacocks, or behavioral, such as the courtship rituals of bowerbirds.
Intrasexual Selection
Intrasexual selection is the process where individuals of one sex (usually males) compete with each other for access to mates. This can involve direct competition, such as fighting, or indirect competition, such as displaying attractive traits.
Related Terms
- Natural selection: The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
- Evolution: The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
- Mate choice: The process where individuals choose their mates based on certain traits.
- Sexual dimorphism: The condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sexual selection
- Wikipedia's article - Sexual selection
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