Question

You notice a species of bird in which females prefer long ornamented feathers on the crest of males. You demonstrate this through careful observations in nature where you routinely see female birds choose males with the largest feathers. Males have enormous feathers on their crests that are brightly colored. For the males with the largest feathers, they easily get caught by predators. You also demonstrate this by carefully observing which males get caught from a group of males by a predator.
What model of female mate choice best explains your observations?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is "Runaway sexual selection".

Explanation:

Runaway sexual selection, also known as Fisherian runaway in honor to Ronald Fisher the scientist that proposed it, is a type of sexual selection on birds, at which exaggerated male ornamentation are developed since females prefer males with these characteristics. Runaway sexual selection is a  biological paradox, since male with exaggerated ornamentation are selected by the females but also are more easily caught by predators. Runaway sexual selection fits the description of the species of bird herein described.