Sexual Selection

Sexual dimorphism is the term used to describe distinctly male and female phenotypes or secondary sexual characteristics. Sexual selection is based on any trait that gives the individual a competitive edge in mating and producing offspring. Many times the males compete for the privilege of mating with certain females but at other times the females are the agents of selection when they pick their mates. Through nonrandom mating, alleles for preferred traits increase. This leads to increased sexual dimorphism


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