Andersson, M. (1994) Sexual selection. Princeton University Press.

In this book, the author presents models, methodologies, and empirical testing, as well as several unsolved problems, in order to describe the theory and its recent advancements. Selection and evolution of mating preferences are among the issues explored, as are the relationships between sexual selection and speciation, sexual selection limitations, and sex variations in signals, body size, and weapons.

The sex dimorphism of bright colors, larger fins, feather plumes, song, horns, antlers, and tusks is common. Why have males evolved more visible ornaments, messages, and weaponry than females in many animals? How might such characteristics evolve despite the fact that they may reduce male survival? Such questions motivated Darwin to propose the notion of sexual selection, which is possibly the most scientifically contentious of his ideas.

The rapidly increasing field of sexual selection was also discussed in the book. It still challenges researchers today as they try to understand how competition for mates can favor a variety of sex-dimorphic traits. Reviewing theoretical and empirical work in this very active field, M. Andersson, a leading contributor himself, provides a major up-to-date synthesis of sexual selection.