[Campbell Biology P.1201] The text discusses how seemingly 'arbitrary' traits like long eyest... | Practice Question
The text discusses how seemingly 'arbitrary' traits like long eyestalks in flies or bright coloration in birds are favored by females. Which of the following statements best explains the underlying reason for this preference and a related concept of mate choice?
A: These traits are arbitrary and serve no evolutionary purpose, merely acting as a random cue for mate recognition; mate-choice copying ensures population uniformity.
B: Such ornaments often correlate with the male's health and vitality, indicating good genes, which can lead to offspring with higher survival rates; mate-choice copying allows individuals to quickly adopt successful mating strategies.
C: Females choose these traits purely for aesthetic reasons, as they find them visually appealing; mate-choice copying is a method for females to force males to develop these traits.
D: The longer eyestalks and brighter colors provide better camouflage, helping males avoid predators; mate-choice copying is an adaptive strategy to reduce competition for mates.
Explanation
The text explains that 'Ornaments such as long eyestalks in these flies and bright coloration in birds correlate in general with health and vitality. A female whose mate choice is a healthy male is likely to produce more offspring that survive to reproduce.' It also defines mate-choice copying as 'a behavior in which individuals in a population copy the mate choice of others,' implying it's a way to adopt successful strategies.