Definition of sexual selection, female competition and ornamentation

Much of the spectacular biodiversity on this planet results from sexual selection.

However, the exact definition of sexual selection is still under debate, especially regarding where natural selection (NS) ends and sexual selection (SS) begins.

A bold aim of this proposal is to provide a new more distinct definition of SS, one that focuses on intrasexual competiton for access to gametes rather than to mates.

The point of this is that mates often offer access to resources (food, safety, parental care, etc), and when they are the real targets of the competition, the process falls under NS.

In the second part of the proposal, I return to two of my study systems (bushcrickets and sand gobies) to examine how a new definition of SS affects our understanding of female-female competition for mates, when males provide both gametes and resources.

In the third part, I explore the evolution and function of female ornamentation in four studies using four different approaches: modelling, meta-analysis, phylogenetic analysis and experiment. This 4-year project consists of seven studies, with me as anchor on all, and with seven international collaborators.

Two post docs, with two studies each to focus on, will be essential to complete the project. The remaining three studies will be done by me, collaborators and master student.

Each study and collaborator is hand-picked to provide additional insight into SS processes, and the evolution of female ornamentation in the light of NS and SS.