Evolution of male life histories and age-dependent sexual signals under female choice.

ABSTRACT: Sexual selection theory models evolution of sexual signals and preferences using simple life histories. However, life-history models predict that males benefit from increasing sexual investment approaching old age, producing age-dependent sexual traits. Age-dependent traits require time and energy to grow, and will not fully mature before individuals enter mating competition. Early evolutionary stages pose several problems for these traits. Age-dependent traits suffer from strong viability selection and gain little benefit from mate choice when rare. Few males will grow large traits, and they will rarely encounter choosy females. The evolutionary origins of age-dependent traits therefore remain unclear. I used numerical simulations to analyze evolution of preferences, condition (viability)

SUBMITTER: Adamson JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3869177 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature