Question

A male peacock has enormous tail feathers that it uses in mating displays to attract females. While the tail feathers are an advantage in mating, what is the potential disadvantage of these feathers to the male?

A. The feathers require a lot of energy to produce.
B. Bright feathers make males less susceptible to predation.
C. The feathers make the male more attractive to other males.
D. There are no disadvantages to having large tail feathers.
E. The large tail feathers would make it easier to fly.

Answer 1

The male peacock's large and bright tail feathers can be a disadvantage because they make the bird more visible to predators and less able to escape. However, this disadvantage can serve as an honest signal of quality to females, allowing the fittest males to survive and mate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The male peacock's enormous tail feathers, although advantageous in attracting females, can also have a potential disadvantage. According to the handicap principle, the tail feathers make the male more visible to predators and less able to escape, which is a disadvantage to the bird's survival. However, this disadvantage serves as an honest signal of quality to the females, allowing the fittest males with the largest and most extravagant tails to survive and mate, leading to greater reproductive success.