What are the costs to being choosy?
MSc Research Project 2015 While a lot of known about male traits subject to female choice, nearly nothing is known about female preference itself, including whether or not choosiness is costly. Classic models of Fisherian runaway assume no costs to choosiness, and subsequent models have shown that costs can resist the parameter space under which runaway can lead to trait exaggeration. Direct costs are particularly important as theoretical work shown that indirect benefits are unlikely to outweigh direct costs. Here, female choosiness is assayed in isofemale lines of Drosophila simulans, and no difference between groups of the most and least choosy isolines is found. This study and past work suggests Fisherian benefits may be enough to maintain preference in this species. Supervisors: Prof. Dave J. Hosken and Prof. Nina Wedell, |