Sexual selection: signals to die for.
Sexual signals are conspicuous and are typically assumed to be energetically costly, which keeps them honest. A recent study on fireflies has found that signal production is energetically cheap, but signalling remains expensive because of eavesdropping predators.
de Crespigny
Fleur E Champion
FE
Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK.
Hosken
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D004463:Ecology; D005260:Female; D048888:Fireflies / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic