Environmental Heterogeneity, Gene-By-Environment Interactions And The Reliability Of Sexual Traits As Indicators Of Mate Quality

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Genetics;  Veterinary
Article Date: 17 Dec 2008 - 2:00 PST

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Sexual displays such as the peacock's tail are thought to indicate the genetic quality of males, which is why females prefer larger or brighter displays.

In this paper we show, by means of a mathematical model, that the relationship between genetic quality and sexual display size might be weakened by variable environmental conditions experienced by individuals before they reach maturity.

In extreme cases we predict a negative relationship between genetic quality and display size. This result is important because it provides an explanation for the maintenance of variation in display size over evolutionary time.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences