Darwin's theory includes natural selection and sexual selection. Which term describes the process where traits increase mating success due to attractiveness?

Darwin's theory includes natural selection and sexual selection. Which term describes the process where traits increase mating success due to attractiveness?

• A. Natural selection
• B. Sexual selection
• C. Genetic drift
• D. Mutation

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is a form of natural selection that acts through mating success. Sexual selection describes how traits evolve because they help individuals attract mates or outcompete rivals, even if those traits don’t help (or even hinder) survival. When a feature makes an individual more attractive to potential mates—like bright plumage, elaborate displays, or courtship rituals—it increases the chances of reproducing, so the trait becomes more common over generations. This isn’t about surviving better in the environment in general (that’s natural selection’s broader role) and it’s different from genetic drift (random changes in allele frequencies) or mutation (new genetic variation). So traits that boost mating success through attractiveness are characteristic of sexual selection.

The key idea here is a form of natural selection that acts through mating success. Sexual selection describes how traits evolve because they help individuals attract mates or outcompete rivals, even if those traits don’t help (or even hinder) survival. When a feature makes an individual more attractive to potential mates—like bright plumage, elaborate displays, or courtship rituals—it increases the chances of reproducing, so the trait becomes more common over generations.

This isn’t about surviving better in the environment in general (that’s natural selection’s broader role) and it’s different from genetic drift (random changes in allele frequencies) or mutation (new genetic variation). So traits that boost mating success through attractiveness are characteristic of sexual selection.