10.5061/DRYAD.B33Q0
Candolin, Ulrika
University of Helsinki
Tukiainen, Iina
University of Helsinki
Data from: The sexual selection paradigm: have we overlooked other
mechanisms in the evolution of male ornaments?
Dryad
dataset
2015
signals
offspring survival
social selection
Mate choice
2015-09-11T13:48:52Z
2015-09-11T13:48:52Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.1987
120051 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
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 success but not with attractiveness to females. This contradicts
earlier assumptions and suggests that social selection for offspring
survival rather than for sexual selection for mating success is the main
mechanism maintaining the ornament in the population. These results
suggest that we should consider other forms of social selection beyond
sexual selection when seeking to explain the function and evolution of
male ornaments. An incorrect assignment of selection pressures could
hamper our understanding of evolution.
Candolin & Tukiainen Red area and intensity