There are frequent debates as to whether or not sexual selection led to the Irish Elk's extinction. Sexual selection can increase or decrease a population's chance of extinction, due to behaviors such as male-male competition and female choice. Also, sexual harassment by males can result in lower female fecundity or even death.[31] Regardless of the details of the species' life history, extinction would require that too few males survive to maturity to fertilize a sufficient number of females to maintain a viable population.[31] When it comes to male-male competition, if the assumption is that detrimental effects are clear in only the males, a surviving male would have a large amount of females to choose from, with little competition. Selection must, therefore, favor the less extreme male genotypes, and it appears impossible to generate a scenario where males with larger antlers are still selected for when the lifetime reproductive success of males with large antlers approaches zero (as required for deterministic extinction to occur).[31]
In female choice, sexual selection could, thus, reinforce natural selection and lead to quicker responses to environmental changes, should they occur.[31] With a decrease in male population, females have fewer choices, which could result in inbreeding. This can pose significant threats to population survival.[31] However, much of these studies are contradicting. Females may adaptively avoid the accumulation of inbreeding, so that female choice might increase effective population size.[31]
There are frequent debates as to whether or not sexual selection led to the Irish Elk's extinction. Sexual selection can increase or decrease a population's chance of extinction, due to behaviors such as male-male competition and female choice. Also, sexual harassment by males can result in lower female fecundity or even death.[31] Regardless of the details of the species' life history, extinction would require that too few males survive to maturity to fertilize a sufficient number of females to maintain a viable population.[31] When it comes to male-male competition, if the assumption is that detrimental effects are clear in only the males, a surviving male would have a large amount of females to choose from, with little competition. Selection must, therefore, favor the less extreme male genotypes, and it appears impossible to generate a scenario where males with larger antlers are still selected for when the lifetime reproductive success of males with large antlers approaches zero (as required for deterministic extinction to occur).[31]
In female choice, sexual selection could, thus, reinforce natural selection and lead to quicker responses to environmental changes, should they occur.[31] With a decrease in male population, females have fewer choices, which could result in inbreeding. This can pose significant threats to population survival.[31] However, much of these studies are contradicting. Females may adaptively avoid the accumulation of inbreeding, so that female choice might increase effective population size.[31]
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