| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,506,598,820 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
sexual selection |
Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.12 sec. |
|
selection /se·lec·tion/ (sĕ-lek´shun) the play of forces that determines the relative reproductive performance of the various genotypes in a population. directional selection selection favoring individuals at one extreme of the distribution. disruptive selection , diversifying selection selection favoring the two extremes rather than the intermediate. natural selection the survival in nature of those individuals and their progeny best equipped to adapt to environmental conditions. sexual selection natural selection in which certain characteristics attract male or female members of a species, thus ensuring survival of those characteristics. stabilizing selection selection favoring intermediate phenotypes rather than those at one or both extremes.
sexual selection, the selection of mates on the basis of the attraction of or preference for certain traits, such as coloration or behavior patterns, so that eventually only those particular traits appear in succeeding generations. It explains the wide variety of sexual characteristics among the various species. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
As this discussion reveals, there is a strong element of female choice and female power that is directly correlated with the type and extent of sexual dimorphisms in animals. Research has shown, she describes, how female choice is widespread at the vaginal/reproductive level: "Females store sperm, they eject sperm, they destroy sperm and they carefully and precisely select the most genetically compatible sperm for them[selves] with their amazing genitalia" (p. The remarkable wing adaptations "show the power of female choice," says Bostwick. |
| Medical Dictionary |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Browser extension |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|