The sexual selection paradigm: have we overlooked other mechanisms in the evolution of male ornaments?

ABSTRACT: Extravagant male ornaments expressed during reproduction are almost invariably assumed to be sexually selected and evolve through competition for mating opportunities. Yet in species where male reproductive success depends on the defence of offspring, male ornaments could also evolve through social competition for offspring survival. However, in contrast to female ornaments, this possibility has received little attention in males. We show that a male ornament that is traditionally assumed to be sexually selected--the red nuptial coloration of the three-spined stickleback--is under stronger selection for offspring survival than for mating success. Males express most coloration during parenting, when they no longer attract females, and the colour correlates with nest retention and hatching s

SUBMITTER: Candolin U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4614788 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature