Question

In a short essay (100-150 words), explain why intersexual selection often leads to sexual dimorphism.

Answer 1

Ans. Sexual dimorphism means male and female of a species having consistent differences in physiology, behavior, attitudes etc. In sexual dimorphism there operates different sexual pressure on male and female and different traits are present in male and females.Sexual selection is the difference in reproductive success which depends upon the ability to attract the sex mate or partner. Sexual selection can be of two types intrasexual selection and intersexual selection.Intersexual selection is the evolution of certain traits in one sex so that opposite sex get attracted .While in case of intrasexual selection individual of one sex evolve certain traits which make them to compete with other individuals of same sex for getting mating partner. Intersexual selection often leads to sexual dimorphism because one sex is searching for specific traits in the opposite sex like in humans female search for tall male as a result her offsprings would be tall and hence more tall male are produced in population.