Question

In the context of sexual selection, antagonistic co-evolution refers to?

1) The fact that male genitalia sometimes injure the females
2) The fact that suboptimal males will sometimes trick females into mating with them and mating when the dominant males are busy fighting
3) The arms races that can result as males and females compete for control over fertilization

Answer 1

Antagonistic co-evolution in sexual selection refers to the evolutionary arms race between males and females, leading to complex adaptations and mating strategies driven by competition and differing reproductive interests.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of sexual selection, antagonistic co-evolution refers to the evolutionary arms races between males and females whereby each sex evolves specific adaptations that attempt to control the outcome of fertilization. This can lead to an increase in traits or behaviors in one sex that may be countered by the development of opposing traits or behaviors in the other sex, often leading to complex mating strategies and interactions.

Antagonistic co-evolution can result from various factors, including male-male competition, female choice, or sexual conflict, where the interests of males and females regarding reproduction are not aligned. One example of this is when females evolve strategies to avoid mating with suboptimal males even as some males evolve trickery to bypass female choice.

Antagonistic co-evolution refers to the arms races that can result as males and females compete for control over fertilization. It is a concept in sexual selection where males and females evolve traits and behaviors that counteract each other's reproductive strategies.