Final answer:
Sexual selection is a form of selection that occurs when certain traits increase an individual's reproductive success, even if those traits may be disadvantageous for survival. It can result in the development of secondary sexual characteristics that are not beneficial for survival but help in attracting mates and maximizing reproductive success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual selection is a form of selection that occurs when certain traits increase an individual's reproductive success, even if those traits may be disadvantageous for survival. It can result in the development of secondary sexual characteristics that are not beneficial for survival but help in attracting mates and maximizing reproductive success.
For example, the peacock's tail is a classic example of sexual selection. The male peacock with the largest, most colorful tail is more likely to win a mate, even though the tail may make the male more visible to predators and slower in escaping.
This phenomenon is known as the handicap principle, where traits that come with risks, such as large tails, become desirable to females because they signal the genetic quality and fitness of the male.