The Evolution of Primary Sexual Characters in Animals

"A broad and thorough compendium that covers cutting-edge theoretical issues and includes taxonomic overviews by leading experts. For serious students of sexual selection, reproductive behavior, and sexual diversity, this book will uncover a plethora of fascinating facts and make them feel like the proverbial kid in the candy store!" -Zuleyma Tang-Martinez, Professor of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis "Most biologists, myself included, probably feel they have a good understanding of primary and secondary sexual characters and how they relate to natural and sexual selection. But this volume of well-chosen chapters offers a whole new perspective. A broad spectrum of outstanding authors covers diverse taxa and reproductive modes. Not only does this comprehensive treatment inform Graham Bell's 'queen of problems in evolutionary biology,' it helps extend this fascinating topic to a broader audience. Well written and edited, richly illustrated, and full of details, the volume is a must for the broadly trained biologist and naturalist." -John Pearse, Professor Emeritus, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz "Traits such as gonads, gametes and genitalia are generally thought to be the product of natural selection to improve fertilization efficiency. This fascinating book draws together a growing literature that challenges this view. By considering an unusual diversity of species, and with elegant descriptions of both structure and function, the studies described here demonstrate an important role for sexual selection in the evolution of primary sexual characters. Perfect for a seminar course in behavioral ecology or invertebrate biology." -H. Jane Brockmann, Professor of Biology, University of Florida