etAP Sexual Selection 3.4.24

Why does the peacock have such an elaborate tail?

• It increases the male's chances of survival.

• It is a non-adaptive sexual trait that has no clear purpose.

• It confers an advantage to its bearer in the form of increased reproductive success.

• It allows the peacock to fly better.

How did Charles Darwin propose that sexual selection came to be recognized?

• By organisms better adapted to their environment having higher rates of survival than those less well adapted.

• By the development of traits that are elaborate and apparently non-adaptive.

• By the selection of traits that increase an individual's survival at the expense of their reproductive success.

• By the selection of traits that increase an individual's reproductive success, even at the expense of their survival.

Which sex is under stronger sexual selection?

• Males, because they produce fewer but more nutritious gametes.

• Females, because they produce large gametes and their reproduction is limited by access to resources.

• Males, because they compete among themselves for access to females.

• Both sexes equally, because every offspring has one father and one mother.

What can lead to sexual dimorphism?

• A smaller variance in reproductive success among males.

• A larger variance in reproductive success among females.

• A smaller variance in reproductive success among females.

• A larger variance in reproductive success among males.

What can lead to reversed sexual dimorphism?

• Males providing more parental care than females

• Females being larger and more aggressive than males

• Females having to compete for access to males

• Males having to compete for access to females

Which of the following is an example of intersexual selection?

• Two males fighting for access to a female

• A female choosing a mate based on his elaborate courtship display

• A male intimidating other males to prevent them from mating

• A female competing with other females for food resources

What is a potential outcome of intrasexual selection?

• Decreased competition among males

• Increased genetic diversity within a species

• Dominant males monopolizing a group of females

• Females developing more elaborate secondary sexual characters

What is the result of sexual conflict?

• Decrease in male reproductive success

• Increase in female reproductive success

• Evolution of counter-adaptations in the evolutionary arms race

• Stabilization of sexual traits in the population

Which mechanism explains why certain traits are favored by females in mate selection?

• Natural selection due to environmental pressures

• Sexual selection due to male-male competition

• Sexual selection due to female choice

• Genetic drift over generations

What role does sexual selection play in the evolution of species?

• It ensures that only the strongest individuals survive.

• It contributes to the development of traits that improve mating success.

• It decreases genetic diversity within a population.

• It has no significant impact on the evolution of species.