Sexual Selection
A form of natural selection where traits are favored because they increase mating success rather than survival. Drives the evolution of elaborate ornaments, displays, and competitive behaviors.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 5 chapters:
"Chapter 5: Sexual Selection - Why Companies Waste Billions on Peacock Tails The Puzzle of Wasteful Extravagance In 1860, Charles Darwin faced a problem that kept him up at ..."
"When predators are removed experimentally, guppy coloration becomes brighter within a few generations - sexual selection pushes for conspicuousness, predation selection pushes for camouflage, and equilibrium coloration represents the balance between these opposing force..."
"...odulate alarm calling based on audience composition. Chickens call more frequently when chicks are present; males call more when females are present (sexual selection - calling enhances male reputation). This flexibility suggests alarm calling is not purely reflexive but somewhat strategic: individuals assess socia..."
"...pecies) is partly attributed to this mechanism - color-based mate choice allows rapid speciation without requiring geographic isolation. The role of sexual selection (differential reproductive success due to competition for mates) in adaptive radiation is debated. In some radiations (Hawaiian Drosophila, with 500+..."
"...n Arms Races Don't Stop Some arms races escalate to extremes, producing traits far beyond what's optimal in isolation - runaway co-evolution. Sexual selection and sensory exploitation create runaway dynamics: female mate preferences select for exaggerated male traits, which feed back to intensify preferen..."
Biological Context
Peacock tails, deer antlers, and bird songs evolved through sexual selection. Two mechanisms: intrasexual selection (competition between same sex) and intersexual selection (mate choice by opposite sex). Sexual selection can produce traits that reduce survival but increase reproduction.
Business Application
Business sexual selection: companies compete for partners, talent, and investors through displays of capability, vision, and potential. Flashy signals (office design, marketing) may attract attention even if not directly productive.