by Michael | Feb 13, 2015
Whether it’s resources, territories, or mates, nothing comes for free. To gain access to any of these factors necessary for reproduction, individuals need to be able to outcompete rivals. In most cases, it is some morphological trait that determines outcomes—larger,...
by Michael | Feb 13, 2015
Choosing a mate is tough. Should he be a good provider or be easy to fool to allow a little fun on the side? Should she be able to better protect her offspring or turn a blind eye to infidelity? The mates individuals choose will shape how traits evolve simply because...
by Michael | Feb 13, 2015
Bright colours, long eye stalks, inflatable abdominal sacks, or snappy dance moves, there are many traits that males possess that individuals use to choose a mate. In each case, the traits can signal some aspect that is important to survival and reproduction such as...
by Michael | Feb 13, 2015
Strong, yet flexible, spider silk is the most unique extended phenotype in the animal kingdom. The development of various silk types allowed spiders to radiate into numerous niches they inhabit today. Despite research exploring the diversity of web types and their...
by Michael | Feb 13, 2015
Learning is important. How well could individuals perform if they didn’t learn from their experiences to become better hunters, avoid predators, court mates, or even when to escalate a conflict. There is evidence demonstrating that individuals differ in their capacity...
