13. Sexual Selection

Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB 122)

Sexual selection is a component of natural selection in which mating success is traded for survival. Natural selection is not necessarily survival of the fittest, but reproduction of the fittest. Sexual dimorphism is a product of sexual selection. In intersexual selection, a sex chooses a mate. In intrasexual selection, individuals of one sex compete among themselves for access to mates. Often honest, costly signals are used to help the sex that chooses make decisions.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
06:53 - Chapter 2. Competing and Choosing
13:11 - Chapter 3. Competition with Sexual Dimorphism
27:29 - Chapter 4. Honest, Costly Signaling
35:55 - Chapter 5. Selection through Perception and Polyandry
43:35 - Chapter 6. Summary

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2009.