Explore the fascinating world of sexual selection in females through this 37-minute lecture by Kavita Isvaran from the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences. Delve into the historically overlooked topic of female sexual selection, examining empirical evidence and case studies that challenge traditional views. Learn about sex role reversal, female competition for mates, and the evolution of elaborate female traits. Discover how female aggression impacts mating success in various species, from topi antelopes to rock lizards. Gain insights into the flexibility of sex roles, the redefinition of sexual selection, and the concept of social selection. Analyze field experiments on female signaling and aggression, and compare communication strategies between males and females. Conclude with a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of sexual selection in females, broadening your perspective on evolutionary biology and animal behavior.
Sexual Selection in Females by Kavita Isvaran
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences via YouTube
Overview
Syllabus
Third Bangalore School on Population Genetics and Evolution
Kavita Isvaran
Elaborate characters may evolve as a result of
Historically - emphasis on male traits
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
Is sexual selection then not an important evolutionary process in females?
Sex role reversal
Bateman gradient steeper in females in pipefish
Sexual selection on female body size in Bronze-winged jacana
Is sexual selection on females limited to rare cases of sex-role reversal?
Increasing evidence for widespread sexual selection in females
A typical female visit to a lek
Mating patterns on leks - controversial
Probability of successful mating decreases with female aggression
Females compete aggressively for preferred males in topi
Who competes and who chooses? Sex roles flexible
Weapons and ornaments
Sexual Selection re-defined
Social Selection
2. Signalling and Aggression in female rock lizards
Male signalling
Female signalling
Signalling and aggression in females
Field experiments
Aggression substantially increases with threat
Signalling sensitive to threat
Comparing communication and competition strategies How do females and males use the available behavioral and visual signal repertoire?
Sexual selection in females: where do we stand?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Taught by
International Centre for Theoretical Sciences
