The causes of evolutionary consequences of sexual selection

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The evolutionary consequences of sexual selection include some of the most visible aspects of biological diversity that exist including the striking differences between males and females in body size, appearance, and behaviour. These differences have had a huge impact on the way researchers have thought about sexual selection and the way the general public views evolution. Indeed, Darwin proposed his theory of sexual selection to account for the evolution of sex-differences, such as extravagant displays traits like the peacock's tail, that are clearly maladaptive in terms of survival and therefore cannot be explained by their affects on non-sexual fitness. Over the past 150 years, researchers have come to understand well sexual selection's role in the evolution of such conspicuous secondary sexual traits that serve individuals in successfully reproducing. However, questions concerning other more fundamental aspects of sexual selection remain unanswered. For example, what is sexual selection's role in the origin of new species? Does sexual selection promote or hinder adaptation? Does sexual selection contribute to the removal of harmful mutations that constantly arise every generation? Why do mate preferences, a common cause of sexual selection, evolve? Using laboratory experiments and genetic theory, my research program addresses such questions with the ultimate goal of developing a more robust understanding of the mechanisms of evolution and the diversity of traits and species that are produced. In doing so, students in my lab receive valuable training in evolutionary genetics and ecological and evolutionary theory, along with practical experience with common experimental systems in biology. In the end, one of evolutionary biology's most important values lies in providing an elegant biological explanation of the diversity of life and how it arose. Our research seeks to improve our understanding of sexual selection's contribution to this.