Essay On Lek Paradox

800 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The importance of sexual selection

"Persistent female choice for a particular male trait values should erode genitive variance in male traits and thereby remove the benefits of choice, yet choice persists” (Miller, Christine and Allen Moore). This phenomenon is know as the Lek Paradox and has puzzled scientists for many years. Throughout all species there has been abundant evidence showing continuous female choice of male traits, yet there is still no definite answer as to what allows for genetic variance to be maintained, and why a specific trait never becomes fixed. Many hypotheses have been theorized and researched, all providing some explanation as to how this variance in species is maintained, from traits signaling resistance to parasites, according to Hamilton and Zuk, to the hypothesis of mutational and environmental affects. Condition-dependence can also provide information as to how the lek paradox is able to exist; this hypothesis will be looked at in this paper.

Leks are males who congregate together and perform outrageous specific rituals in order to entice females to mate with them. Males in these species contribute nothing but their genes, therefore the only benefits a female can acquire from the male are the indirect genetic traits, the ‘good genes’ the male possesses, which are passed on to their offspring, improving their sons future mating success as they inherit the attractive trait from their father. This continuous selection for the most attractive traits should cause directional selection, which in time should erode genetic variance for that trait, decreasing the amount of choice and variation between each individual. This decrease in genetic variance would also lead to impaired survival for that species, due to them all having similar traits...

... middle of paper ...

...or maintenance of traits that enhance the individuals overall fitness, as stated by ______. For males some of this fitness, which is influenced by the condition of the individual, goes into the expression of sexually selected traits, such as mating calls. This has a indirect result for other traits such as foraging behavior or increasing the risk of predation. This trait then becomes costly, resulting in the evolution of condition dependence, as shown by Price et al. 1993; Anderson 1994; and Johnstone 1995. Individuals in higher conditions have an advantage over others as they have a larger pool to allocate among their competing demands. This means that "condition dependence is expected to arise because individuals in higher condition are better able to pay higher marginal costs of further exaggeration than those in lower conditions”, as stated by Rowe and Houle.

Show More
Related

  • Metabolism Differences of a Cockroach and a Cricket.

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    The “increased-intake hypothesis” states that with a higher Resting Metabolic Rate, more energy can be converted into secondary sexual traits (Okada, et. al., 2011).

    Read More

  • Level of Aggression in House Crickets (Acheta domesticus) With Different Resources Available

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    Intro: Charles Darwin’s natural selection comes to mind when viewing the aggressive behaviors in crickets. This interaction comes into play specifically when competition for resources, such as foods and females, are scarce. Thus, only the organism most fit in the environment would be allowed to survive and pass on its genes. Pioneers of animal behavior, pave the way to understanding the why animals act the way they act (von Frisch, 1967; Lorenz, 1952; and Tinbergen 1951). With further integration between different biological organizations, we see the rise of new possible research, especially in crickets (Wong & Hoffman, 2010). The house crickets, Acheta domesticus, would normally display little to no aggression between males because of their natural behavior to live in groups. But when isolated for a length of time, ag...

    Read More

  • Wasserstrom's Arguments Relating to the Unimportance of Gender and Its Importance on Promoting Sex Roles

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...n necessary would be for the survival of its species, such as, the hunting and gathering societies where the female, having the ability to reproduce and lack of physical strength, was the gatherer and the male, having the advantage of physical strength, was the hunter.

    Read More

  • Moore Paradox Essay

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    In order to understand the concept of Moore’s Paradox, we must first assess and understand the behavior of logical and performative contradictions. Credited for devising and examining this paradox, George Edward Moore, a British philosopher who taught at the University of Cambridge and studied ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics describes the paradox in its omissive and commissive forms in which we will discuss thoroughly. I will then express my standpoint on which solution is the most optimal choice for Moore’s Paradox in order to analyze and explain why I believe my solution is superior to other solutions. I will also discuss any issues that arise

    Read More

  • Apterous Experiment

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this experiment, Mendelain Models are observed. The purpose of the experiment is to understand how traits are passed from one generation to the other as well as understanding the difference between sex linked and autosomal genes. One particular trait that is observed in this experiment is when a fly is lacking wings, also known as an apterous mutation. In this experiment, we will determine whether this mutation is carried on an autosomal chromosome or on a sex chromosome. The data for this experiment will be determined statistically with the aid of a chi-square. If the trait is autosomal, then it will be able to be passed to the next generation on an autosomal chromosome, meaning that there should be an equal amount of male and

    Read More

  • Honey Badger Evolution And Evolution

    2715 Words  | 6 Pages

    The second condition of natural selection evolution involves the Honey Badgers heritability of its complex traits (Phelan, 2010). Honey Badgers have been able to maintain their presence and dominant nature within their habitats as a result of successfully transmitting traits from parent to child. As can seen from Honey Badgers consistent size and cognitive abilities, the animal is capable of genetically passing it successful traits.

    Read More

  • Olbers Paradox Essay

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    Olbers’ Paradox is one of the many topics of cosmology. In principle, there seems to be nothing surprising in the black color of the night. Earth turns on itself, so that part of the Earth is kept lit by the sun, while another part remains 'dark '. A priori this may seem like a correct answer, but it is something that is too short. The universe does not end in the Sun, and the amount of additional stars who accompanies us in the universe is estimated at the not inconsiderable figure of 3.2 × 10 ^ 22 stars.

    Read More

  • The Characteristics Of Intra-Sexual Selection And Inter-Sexual Selection

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some individuals have developed different traits to help them in the process of intra-sexual competition. The organisms with more distinctive traits have greater reproductive success. More genes of those traits are then ‘selected’ and are passed onto the offspring of the organisms. Throughout time variability in these traits becomes

    Read More

  • Exploring Sexual Dimorphism: Anthropological Perspectives

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social groups of primates closely relate to sexual dimorphism, because how each of their communities interact with one another plays a large role in sexual selection. Sexual selection, as Darwin stated, is a key factor and cause in the morphological dimorphism between sexes of a species. Additionally, sexual selection comes from male competition, which directly correlates to primate’s social structures. For example, genus gorilla is a part of a polygynous mating system, which consists of one male and multiple female. This creates an environment where males must compete with one another to reproduce and create offspring. Due to this competition, males must prove to be strong and attract themselves to females to ensure reproductive success. These strong male traits are favored in sexual selection, because the females are highly particular about the male they mate with, so there become specific male traits that are most desirable. Therefore, in polygynous groups, sexual dimorphism is the greatest (Frayer, Wolpoff, 1985). In comparison, a monogamous primate such as genus hylobate or gibbons has a social structure that consists of a more nuclear based family. There is a lot less male competition because males do not mate with multiple females. Therefore, primates are less dimorphic in monogamous social structures (Frayer, Wolpoff,

    Read More

  • Human Mate Choice Essay

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    In order to understand the present lifestyles relating to different approaches and tactics applied by humans in mate choice preferences, there is the need to refer to Darwin (1859, 1871) evolutionary perspectives. Darwin (1871) sexual selection is the driving force for males and females reproductive quest for their genes survival. These driving forces have been classified into two categories as intra-sexual and intersexual mate selection.Intersexual selection is male sexual selection process whereby males compete with other males and the females choose the strongest as their ideal partner. Intra-sexual selection occurs when the male species fight among themselves and the strongest gain access to females for

    Read More

  • Gender and Sex

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Biological factors (sex) and gender are correlated, but gender may or may not be caused by biological factors. Cherlin proposes four models of how gender is created: the biosocial model, the socialization model, the interactionist model and the patriarchic model. Only the first model, the “biosocial” model, allows for heredity and biological factors to play a role in determining gender. This model is based on the idea that biologically, men and women are predisposed to act a certain way “on average,” but also, that social factors play a strong role in determining whether biological tendencies prevail. According to this theory, biological differences account for only about a quarter of behavioral gender differences while social influences account for the remaining portion. Socialized traits are stronger than biological traits, and can eliminate biological traits, but biological tendencies are still important because it is a challenge for socialized traits to subdue biological traits. A good example of this is outlined in Ke...

    Read More

  • Biological Psychology

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    The comparative method is a species that can be studied and compared to the search of understanding human behavior. The physiological outlook elucidate the performance of how the nervous system and hormones reacts to the body, what precedent of the transformations in the structure can affect one’s behavior, and how the brain operates. For example, when a cardiologist operate on someone’s heart. He has the expectation of extending that individual's life (Thomas Spray). Another comparative method utilized is the investigation of inheritance. This technique engages a species inheriting genes from its parents. For instance, when the offspring with dark skin complexion begat blue eyes this trait is hereditary. Each of these biological aspects consisting of the comparative, physiological and the genetic systems explicates human behavior. This dissertation will focus on the brain, the nervous system, and the ways in which these physiological mechanisms interrelate.

    Read More

  • Exploring How New Media Have Blurred The Lines Between Media Consumers And Producers?

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Society in the early stages had basic and non-effective ways of gathering resources, so those who were able to produce enough for themselves and their family flourished through evolution because of this, we, as human beings, never developed a trait which limited consumption. One of human natures greatest need is to acquire a mate, (Penn and Mysterud) argues that for male gender ‘resource control is likely to be more important’ when acquiring a partner. Meaning without the proper social status and resources, you will not have the best choice in finding a mate. A great example of this is birds, some birds would go through a great deal of energy to express their colour...

    Read More

  • Sexual Selection Research Paper

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sexual selection is how a creature will appear either suitable or unsuitable for mating purposes based on traits and qualities. Most sexually selective factors can be seen as harmful or considered as disadvantageous- such as plumage in birds, or antlers on deer, or even mating calls and rituals (Miller, n.d; Puts, 2010). These traits, for instance, abundant plumage and large antlers, are thought to be disadvantageous because they can potentially lead to slower responses of the animal due to a larger mass - “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”. However, sexually selective factors can also be seen as advantageous and quite significant. Where we see these beautiful colours and patterns in fur and plumage, and large antlers on stags, we see that the organisms have an abundance of energy and nutrients so that they can create these attractive features (Miller, n.d.). The abundance of energy, strength and agility means that the organism is well fit for survival and thus attracts mates more often (Miller, n.d.). These advantageous traits of strength, energy and even intelligence, can be highly influential when creatures are searching for

    Read More

  • Nature vs Nurture: Genes vs Environment

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first main factor that is said to influence gender is biology. “Nature doesn’t give a flea’s hind leg for our social theories, fads, fashions, political ideologies and other nutty ideas with which people preoccupy themselves (*). This quote explains the argument on the side of biology. People who support this ideology believe that the major biological differences between males and females must most greatly influence our gender development because of their numerous studies.

    Read More

More about Essay On Lek Paradox

Open Document