When sexual selection through mate choice depletes versus exaggerates genetic variation: Unraveling the lek paradox.

doi:10.1073/pnas.2604818123

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Article

When sexual selection through mate choice depletes versus exaggerates genetic variation: Unraveling the lek paradox.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America - 21 Apr 2026

Xu Kuangyi, Servedio Maria R

Abstract excerpt

The evolution of female preferences for male display traits relies on females receiving indirect benefits from their mate. This requires substantial genetic variation in display traits or male quality. Nevertheless, sexual selection through mate choice has been assumed to deplete this genetic var...

Topics

Genetic Variation
Animals
Mating Preference, Animal
Sexual Selection
Male
Female
Models, Genetic
Selection, Genetic
Biological Evolution
Computer Simulation

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