Final answer:
Sexual selection by mate choice results in choosy females, elaborate courtship displays by males, a variance in mating success among males, and may lead to higher parental investment from males.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual selection by mate choice leads to the evolution of diverse mating behaviors and physical traits. These adaptations enhance reproductive success but may not necessarily benefit survival.
Females often exercise choice in mate selection, leading to choosy females who seek particular male traits, such as vibrant coloration or elaborate mating displays. Such traits can serve as indicators of genetic quality or overall fitness. This dynamic fosters the evolution of elaborate courtship displays, where males compete for female attention through behaviors or physical adornments.
In this competitive landscape, not all males will successfully mate, sometimes resulting in some males mating with a less than normal number of females. This sexual selection process can lead to sexual dimorphism, where males and females of a species exhibit different physical characteristics.
Lastly, mate choice can lead to higher parental investment from the chosen males, who may need to invest more in offspring to ensure their genetic contribution is carried forward effectively.