Verified Document

Sexual Selection Is A Form Of Natural Term Paper

Sexual selection is a form of natural selection that deserves attention because of the complexities involved with that selection. Sexual selection focuses on the idea that certain traits give competitors an edge. Studies around the world attempt to clarify the elements involved with this type of selection. Probably the most fundamental explanation of sexual selection is that of choosing a mate that is most likely to survive and a mate that is fertile. But sexual selection goes deeper than that, making an interesting case of study. This paper will focus on female selection and try to examine the reasoning behind it.

Darwin realized that something else was going on when it came to mate selection, as demonstrated though the example of the male and female peacocks. Other examples to back this theory up are female finches zebra finches choosing male zebra finches whose legs were decorated with black or red bands as opposed to male zebra finches with blue or green bands on their legs. (Burley 1235-1236)

Clearly animals that are larger, louder, more colorful, and more novel than average are preferred over the norm. But even such decisions are based on biases. According to Ryan, birds that eat blue berries may evolve blue-sensitive eyes, which would tend to favor blue ornamentation; whereas birds that eat red berries may evolve red-sensitive eyes that favor red ornamentation. (Ryan 156-195) These observations stir up much interest concerning why certain selection are made.
Sexual selection typically takes two forms. Intrasexual selection and intersexual selection. Intrasexual selection involves behaviors which affect the outcome of the competition among a groups' members in relation to access to the opposite sex. This type of behavior is seen among competitive males who fight over territories, for example. Intersexual selection refers to secondary sexual characteristics that make…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Burley, N. "Wild Zebra Finches Have Color-Band Preferences." Animal Behavior. Vol. 36. 1988.

Fisher, R.A. "The Evolution of Sexual Preference." Eugenics Review. Vol.7 1915.

Starr, Cecie. Biology, Concepts and Applications. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company. 1991.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Natural Selection and Evolution
Words: 3056 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Evolution Is True What Is Evolution? This chapter highlights the six elements that make up evolution: 1) growth/evolution; 2) gradualism; 3) speciation; 4) shared origins; 5) natural selection; and 6) nonselective evolutionary change mechanisms (Coyne, 2009). Of these, the foremost is the evolution concept itself, which implies genetic modification of any given species with time. To elaborate, over a number of generations, species of animals may transform into a rather different

Environmental Ethics the Natural World
Words: 1303 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

The fact that the U.S. has never adopted a workable public transportation system on a large scale demands that I drive a car. Obviously, this is true for most Americans: we cannot earn a living with out a car. But meanwhile, I am perfectly aware that I am contributing to the worldwide increase of greenhouse gases. This distresses me because, although I possess no real power to force our

Rules for Perpetuating Gender-Based Sexual
Words: 1492 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Instead of liberating women from the unjustified and prejudicial sexual double standard, the suggestions offered in connection with securing marriage proposals actually do the exact opposite by encouraging women to play into preconceived stereotypes and attitudes that ensure their continued social and sexual inequality. Conversely, according to contemporary psychologists with formal training in human relations and psychosexual development, redressing the social and sexual inequality still faced by women in modern

Factors Influencing Human Mate Selection
Words: 4285 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

Evolutionary Understanding of Physical Attraction and Mate Selection Item Page Financial stability Physical attractiveness Frequency Statistics Overall Analysis of Preferences Effect Factors Influencing Mate Choices Financial stability Physical attractiveness Evolutionary Understanding of Physical Attraction and Mate Selection What factors would usually drive a person to prefer one person as a mate, to another? Are there any observable differences between the mate selection strategies employed by men, and those employed by women? A number of theories have been put forward to

Kin Selection
Words: 3781 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

Kin Selection The organization and functioning of human and animal societies has long been the subject of intense investigations by natural scientists, sociologists and geneticists. Darwin, who laid the foundation for modern theory of evolution, suggested 'kin selection' as an explanation for the existence of sterile females, the worker caste, in social insects like ants, bees and termites. Later, W.D. Hamilton mathematically established the Theory of Kin Selection as a mechanism

Gender-Based Sexual Inequality Gender Equality
Words: 1500 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

" Conclusion: The gender-based sexual double standard is logically indefensible on any level. Piercing the thin veil of justifications offered supporting it requires little more than substitution of the identity of the subjects in any hypothetical or analogy based on the premise. Nevertheless, it persists throughout most of American culture, and sadly, its manifestations in the Western World are infinitely more benign than the cruelty it inspires elsewhere. Ultimately, its roots lie both

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now