Peacock-like displays outpace antlers and tusks in evolutionary change, model suggests
Many animal species, ranging from peacocks and birds of paradise to some lizards, fish and beetles, display physical features or ornaments that can attract potential mates. These ornaments can include colorful plumage, elaborate tails or fins, inflatable throat sacs and elongated eye stalks.
Peacock-like ornamental features, such as vibrant plumage and elaborate tails, may evolve more rapidly than male weapons like antlers and tusks, according to a mathematical model developed by researchers at the University of Freiburg and Swansea University. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, suggests that female mate preferences can lead to faster changes in ornaments through a process called sexual selection.
In contrast, male weapons are primarily shaped by competition between males, resulting in slower evolution. The researchers built a quantitative-genetic model and tested its predictions using data from various animal groups, finding that ornamental traits generally evolve faster than weapons. This difference may stem from stochastic fluctuations in female preferences, which accelerate ornament evolution, as opposed to more stable male-male competition pressures that slow weapon evolution.
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