Helsinki Stickleback Group

Evolution of honest sexual signals

Evolution of honest sexual signals

We are interested in how honest sexual signals can evolve and be maintained despite counteracting forces. Sexual signalling involves a conflict of interest since the signaller benefits from misleading the receiver as to its quality whereas the receiver gains by accurately assessing the quality of the signaller. In my work I investigate the benefits that promote the evolution of preferences for exaggerated sexual traits, both direct and genetic benefits, and the factors that ensure honest signalling.

Some publications:

Candolin, U. 2000. Changes in expression and honesty of sexual signalling over the reproductive lifetime of sticklebacks. – Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 267, 2425-2430.

• Candolin, U. 1999. The relationship between signal quality and physical condition: is sexual signalling honest in the threespine stickleback? – Animal Behaviour 58: 1261-1267.