Male birds of paradise have evolved to possess a brilliant display of plumage. The male shows off his plumage to woo a female. Which of the following statements about this trait is true?
The colorful feathers in the male are a result of progressive sexual selection.
The female has a large part to play in the evolution of the male’s colorful plumage.
The colorful plumage functions as a survival advantage in its environment.
A.
I only
B.
II only
C.
I and III
D.
I and II
I pick A
To determine the correct answer, let's go through each statement and evaluate its accuracy.
Statement I: The colorful feathers in the male are a result of progressive sexual selection.
This statement is true. Male birds of paradise have evolved vibrant plumage through a process called sexual selection. Over time, females have selected mates based on their colorful display, which has driven the evolution of increasingly elaborate and vibrant feathers.
Statement II: The female has a large part to play in the evolution of the male’s colorful plumage.
This statement is also true. It is the female birds of paradise who choose their mates based on their display of plumage. This preference for brightly colored plumage has influenced the evolution of the male birds, as they must compete with one another to attract a female mate.
Statement III: The colorful plumage functions as a survival advantage in its environment.
This statement is false. The purpose of the male bird of paradise's colorful plumage is not to enhance survival in their environment but rather to attract a mate. The elaborate plumage does not provide any significant physical advantage or camouflage.
Based on our evaluation, the correct answer is option D: I and II. Both statements I and II are accurate.