Study Questions for Chapter 10: Mate Choice

1. Why do females choose and males display (in most animals)?

2. What is the male's extended phenotype, and give an example of an experimental test of the role of the male's extended phenotype in affecting female choice. Why is it necessary to do such experiments?

3. What are two assumptions of the model of runaway process? What is a key prediction of the theory of sexual selection by runaway process? Describe evidence supporting the key prediction.

4. How do these two assumptions differ from indicator models of female choice?

5. Describe why a comparative test of the parasite/sexual selection hypothesis that compares different species is less powerful than an experimental test within a single species?

6. Do females forage for mates?

7. Define direct versus indirect benefits of mate choice. Give an example of each (or one example with both).

8. Why should you avoid using cologne or perfume if you are searching for the true love of your life?

9. What is female copying?

10. Outline the null hypotheses, and alternative hypotheses for all the relevant models of mate choice.