Final answer:
Sexual selection is the term that describes different mating behaviors in males and females aimed at maximizing reproductive success, leading to secondary sexual characteristics, such as a peacock's elaborate tail.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes how males and females exhibit different mating behaviors to maximize their fitness is called sexual selection.
Sexual selection is a form of natural selection where individuals with certain heritable traits, such as larger size, elaborate ornaments or distinctive colors, are more successful at attracting mates and, therefore, have more offspring.
This leads to the development of secondary sexual characteristics that enhance mating success but may impair survival. For example, the peacock's tail is an elaborate trait favored by sexual selection.
Male-male competition (intrasexual selection) and female choice (intersexual selection) are two mechanisms by which sexual selection occurs. Males may compete with each other through showing off their ornaments or by territorial fights, whereas females often choose mates based on traits that signal genetic quality.
These mating behaviors and the accompanying attributes are vital in ensuring reproductive success despite potential survival costs, such as increased visibility to predators or high energy expenditure.