Sexual Selection and Sexual Conflict Essay - 1140 Words

Charles Darwin characterized sexual selection as â€Å"variance in the number of mates†. The purpose of sexual selection is to perfect the secondary sexual characteristics, which are the morphological differences between the two sexes. On the other hand the primary sexual characteristics are the differences between the reproductive genital systems of the two sexes. Sexual selection instead of adapting the individual to the environment, like natural selection, it does enhance traits involved in mate acquisition. Sexual conflict, on the other hand, occurs when males and females have different reproductive interests and deriving from the urge of sexual reproduction. This is boosted by promiscuity when males and females have several partners.†¦show more content†¦In 1990 Barette and Vandal studied sparring in caribou. From the 713 matches between males of different antler sizes, 90% of the time males with the smaller antlers retreated. Also there is the intersexual sele ction, which is also known as the female choice. There are three cases of intersexual selection. Firstly, the female choice co-evolved with trait exaggeration, otherwise called Fisher’s process. Secondly, the choosy females gain direct benefit and thirdly, females are choosy because of sensory bias. Fisher’s process is divided in two phases. At phase one, the female preferences evolve because the trait that they prefer is favored by natural selection and as a result, their offspring are more likely to have the beneficial trait. When there is a distinct difference in a species, which is linked with the selective advantage, the females tend to choose the males that clearly distinguish the difference that is to be observed and they will prefer the most advantageous type. As for phase two, once the female preferences exist, males with the specific trait are more fit, which is both a natural and a sexual selection advantage. As a result there will be an increasing selective force favoring stronger preferences and more extreme traits. The runaway process will eventually stop, when there is no longer genetic variation for further trait or preference exaggeration or when the viability costs of the trait, balance sexualShow MoreRelatedRape, Sexual, And Sexual Behavior1069 Words   |  5 Pagesof violence in the United States. The statistics behind sexual assault are staggering, affecting approximately 1 in 3 women (George Mason University, 2005). Sexual violence extends across various human cultures and overwhelmingly occurs in countless animal species. In nonhuman primates, sexual coercion happens regularly and fairly consistently, leading scientists to presume sexual coercion tactics evolved as another form of sexual selection (Smuts and Smuts, 1993). 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