One of the primary mechanisms under which evolution can occur
For other uses, see Mate.
Mate choice is one of the primary mechanisms under which evolution can occur. It is characterized by a "selective response by animals to particular stimuli" which can be observed as behavior.[1] In other words, before an animal engages with a potential mate, they first evaluate various aspects of that mate which are indicative of quality—such as the resources or phenotypes they have—and evaluate whether or not those particular trait(s) are somehow beneficial to them. The evaluation will then incur a response of some sort.[1]
These mechanisms are a part of evolutionary change because they operate in a way that causes the qualities that are desired in a mate to be more frequently passed on to each generation over time. For example, if female peacocks desire mates who have a colourful plumage, then this trait will increase in frequency over time as male peacocks with a colourful plumage will have more reproductive success.[2] Further investigation of this concept, has found that it is in fact the specific trait of blue and green colour near the eyespot that seems to increase the females likelihood of mating with a specific peacock.[3]
Mate choice is a major component of sexual selection, another being intrasexual selection. Ideas on sexual selection were first introduced in 1871, by Charles Darwin, then expanded on by Ronald Fisher in 1915. At present, there are five sub mechanisms that explain how mate choice has evolved over time. These are direct phenotypic benefits, sensory bias, the Fisherian runaway hypothesis, indicator traits and genetic compatibility.
In the majority of systems where mate choice exists, one sex tends to be competitive with their same-sex members[4] and the other sex is choosy (meaning they are selective when it comes to picking individuals to mate with). There are direct and indirect benefits of being the selective individual.[5][6][7] In most species, females are the choosy sex which discriminates among competitive males,[4] but there are several examples of reversed roles (see below). It is preferable for an individual to choose a compatible mate of the same species, in order to maintain reproductive success.[8] Other factors that can influence mate choice include pathogen stress and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
^ abBateson, Paul Patrick Gordon. "Mate Choice." Mate Choice, Cambridge University Press, 1985
Matechoice is one of the primary mechanisms under which evolution can occur. It is characterized by a "selective response by animals to particular stimuli"...
mate, females exhibit more matechoice selectivity than males, as is seen in nature. Relative to most other animals however, female and male mating strategies...
Mate-choice copying, or non-independent matechoice, occurs when a female of an animal species copies another fellow female's matechoice. In other words...
number of females a male can mate with. This introduces the ability for selection to favor male matechoice. Male matechoice is rarely studied or observed...
Look up mate or Mate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Mate may refer to: Mate, one of a pair of animals involved in: Matechoice, intersexual selection...
test due to the amount of variance and flexibility exhibited in human matechoice. A hybrid resolution to psychological adaptations and learned behaviours...
a similar mate value, to avoid rejection. Specifically, one could infer that one's own mate value has a direct impact upon partner choice through the...
word ὕλη (hūlē, "forest" or "wood"). The mating systems across most species of Hyla largely feature female choice based on male calling effort. The specific...
Oecologia, 55: 258 - 263 Hughes, A. L., and Hughes, M. K. (1985). Female choice of mates in polygynous insect, the whitespotted sawyer Monochamus scutellatus...
cryptic choice – the use of multiple sperm receptacles to store sperm from different males, allowing a later choice of which to use. Matechoice also varies...
not consider them in mate selection. R. marginata however show no indication of discriminating against nestmates for matechoice in both males and females...
display matechoice, a phenomenon termed as mutual matechoice. Mutual matechoice occurs when both males and females are searching for a mate that will...
in an average day of mating. Their matechoice is influenced by age and geographic origin of potential mates. Mating duration has been found to vary depending...
sexual selection, the mating call has many variations that may come into play as a major factor in matechoice by females. During mating, females monitor body...
pair bonding ends after mouth brooding begins. An experiment studying matechoice in the mango tilapia shows results of the correlation between operational...
disadvantages of mating with an already-mated male bird can be overcome with ample resources provided by the male, resulting in female choice. In 1977, Stephen...
The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature is a 2003 book by Geoffrey Miller. Miller argues that the vast majority of human...
Dhondt, André (1998). "Mate Selection by Male Winter Moths Operophtera brumata (Lepidoptera, Geometrldae): Adaptive Male Choice or Female Control?". Behaviour...
The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of MateChoice Shapes the Animal World—and Us is a 2017 book by the ornithologist and evolutionary...
potential mating partners. Greater choice and variety of mates increases a female's chance to produce more viable offspring. However, multiple mates for a...
A lekking species is characterised by male displays, strong female matechoice, and the conferring of indirect benefits to males and reduced costs to...
sneaker males quickly insert drop-like sperm into the seminal receptacle. Matechoice is seen in cuttlefish species, where females prefer some males over others...