Evolution of reproductive characters and behaviors in long-tailed widowbirds has been shaped by natural selection. develop hypotheses that could be used to test how intrasexual and intersexual selection could be shaping the evolution of traits in male long-tailed widowbirds.

a. hypotheses of intrasexual selection:

b. hypotheses of intersexual selection: 2. explain the reasoning behind these hypotheses. how would natural selection be acting in them?

a. I hypothesize that intrasexual selection is causing male long-tailed widowbirds to have increasingly sharper talons that could be used to fight off other male long-tailed widowbirds.

b. I hypothesize that male long-tailed widowbirds have increasingly long tails in order to become increasingly more aesthetically pleasing to female long-tailed widowbirds.

2. The reasoning behind "a." is that the birds with the sharpest talons would be the most effective in a fight. Natural selection would be acting on them because only the birds with the sharpest talons would win fights and therefore be able to mate. The reasoning behind "b" is that the birds with the longest tails would be most aesthetically pleasing to the females. Therefore, only the birds with the longest tails would receive mates and the birds with the shortest would be selected against.