Evolutionary biology: variation isn't always sexy.
A recent study has found that differences in a male trait, considered a textbook example of sexual selection, are in fact due to naturally selected variation in the aerodynamic optimum for each individual.
Safran
Rebecca J
RJ
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA. rsafran@princeton.edu
Hauber
Mark E
ME
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005241:Feathers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal; D010641:Phenotype; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D046388:Swallows / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology