The design of animal signals
Article Abstract:
Animal signalling is a complex issue in evolutionary biology. The role of female preferences in mate selection is a theoretically sophisticated part of animal signalling. Darwin held that many of the secondary male sexual characteristics evolved in response to female preferences which, in turn, coevolve. However, there is empirical evidence for some pre-existing preferences, and there is theoretical reason to believe that all perceptual systems may have unpredictable hidden biases for unobserved stimuli.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Inferring the historical patterns of biological evolution
Article Abstract:
Recent advances in statistical modelling of evolution on phylogenetic trees are examined. Maximum likelihood techniques give researchers new ways to study the evolution of life on earth, and there is a range of characteristics that can be investigated. Recent studies, where statistical models have been applied to phylogenies of organisms, challenging conventional views of the Cambrian explosions and the effects of the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction, are considered.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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Sexual swellings advertise female quality in wild baboons
Article Abstract:
Research is presented concerning the significance of the prominent sexual swellings which are produced by ovulating female baboons. The correlation between the size of the swellings and genetic quality is discussed.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2001
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