Towards a resolution of the lek paradox

Janne S. Kotiaho (), Leigh W. Simmons and Joseph L. Tomkins
Additional contact information
Janne S. Kotiaho: Evolutionary Biology Research Group, University of Western Australia
Leigh W. Simmons: Evolutionary Biology Research Group, University of Western Australia
Joseph L. Tomkins: Evolutionary Biology Research Group, University of Western Australia

Nature, 2001, vol. 410, issue 6829, 684-686

Abstract: Abstract Genetic benefits in the shape of ‘good genes’ have been invoked to explain costly female choice in the absence of direct fitness benefits1,2,3. Little genetic variance in fitness traits is expected, however, because directional selection tends to drive beneficial alleles to fixation4,5,6. There seems to be little potential, therefore, for female choice to result in genetic benefits, giving rise to the ‘lek paradox’7,8,9. Nevertheless, evidence shows that genetic variance persists despite directional selection10,11 and genetic benefits of female choice are frequently reported12,13. A theoretical solution to the lek paradox has been proposed on the basis of two assumptions14: that traits are condition-dependent, and that condition shows high genetic variance. The observed genetic variability in sexual traits will be accounted for, because a proportion of the genetic variance in condition will be captured and expressed in the trait14. Here we report results from experiments showing that male courtship rate in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus is a condition-dependent trait that is preferred by females. More importantly, male condition has high genetic variance and is genetically correlated with courtship rate. Our results thereby represent a significant step towards a resolution of the lek paradox.

Date: 2001
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/35070557 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:410:y:2001:i:6829:d:10.1038_35070557

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/35070557

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().