Speciation rates among extant lineages of organisms vary extensively, but our understanding the causes this variation and, therefore, processes speciation is still remarkably incomplete. Both theoretical and empirical studies have indicated that sexual selection important in speciation, earlier discussions focused almost exclusively on potential role female mate choice. Recent findings postmating reproductive conflicts interest between sexes suggest a quite different route to speciation....

Although empirical evidence has shown that many male traits have evolved via sexual selection by female mate choice, our understanding of the adaptive value mating preferences is still very incomplete. It recently been suggested choice may result from females evolving resistance rather than attraction to males, but this disputed. Here, we develop a quantitative genetic model showing conflict over indeed results in joint evolution costly and exaggerated under wide range circumstances. In...

Analyses of intersexual conflicts interest over courtship, mating, or mate guarding require an understanding the physiological costs sexual interaction. Repeated respirometric measures energetic expenditure were taken on female Aquarius remigis while unladen and carrying a mating male, small metal weight, euthanized male. Unladen "cruising" locomotion consumed average 334.6 microW energy (82 J kg-1 m-1); this estimate cost coincides with from voluntarily locomoting arthropods similar mass...

Many studies have been aimed at understanding the maintenance of female infidelity in socially monogamous birds. Because engaging extrapair copulations (EPCs) is believed to be costly for females, it has argued that EPC behavior must bring indirect benefits females by elevating offspring fitness. We use empirical data from literature assess relative strength and direct selection on behavior, using quantitative genetic approximations selection. This analysis confirmed there generally negative...

Reproductive conflict between the sexes is thought to be a key force in evolution of many reproductive characters, but persuasive evidence for its significance still scarce. The spectacular male genitalia that impose physical injury on females during mating has often been suggested product sexually antagonistic coevolution, our understanding these extraordinary adaptations very limited, and there are no direct data addressing their evolutionary elaboration. We show more spiny causes harm...

Sexually antagonistic coevolution may be an important force in the evolution of sexual dimorphism. We undertake a comparative study correlated male and female morphologies clade 15 water strider species genus Gerris (Heteroptera: Gerridae). Earlier studies have shown that superfluous matings impose costs on females, including increased energetic expenditure predation risk, females therefore resist males with premating struggles. Males some possess grasping structures exhibit distinct...

Rapid evolution of genitalia is one the most general patterns morphological diversification in animals. Despite its generality, causes this evolutionary trend remain obscure. Several alternative hypotheses have been suggested to account for (notably lock-and-key, pleiotropism, and sexual selection hypotheses). Here, I argue that thorough intraspecific studies are key gaining insight into processes genitalic evolution. Critical assumptions predictions may be used distinguish between different...

Males of many animal species engage in courtship behaviours during and after copulation that appear to be solely aimed at stimulating the female. It has been suggested these have evolved by cryptic female choice, whereby females are thought impose biases on male postmating paternity success. red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum rub lateral edges females' elytra with their tarsi copulation. We manipulated perception this behaviour tarsal ablation males, thus preventing males from reaching...