Question

The male resplendent quetzal bird has evolved to have tail feathers that are approximately 60 cm long. The female quetzal has short tail feathers. Using the quetzal as your example, describe how the mechanism of natural selection may have led to the evolution of the male quetzal’s extraordinarily long tail feathers

Answer 1

I am here @jadynn

Answer 2

do you have am idea of what it can be ?

Answer 3

yeah wait this answer can take a long time

Answer 4

Many birds use the ploy of a "sexual handicap" to attract a mate. The most extreme example is the male peawingspan. Its tail is completely worthless for anything except display and in fact is a handicap to the bird when trying to escape preditors. It is logical to assume that any male with such an impressive tail is very healthy and intelligent enough to evade attack.

Birds don't rationalize the way people do; females are simply attracted to the best looking male. In humans, males are attractive based on their percieved ability to help raise children. An expensive sportscar and fancy clothing shows the man has money and this is basically the human equivalent of a peawingspan's tail, although a bank account is more useful than non-flight tail feathers.

Female squirrel monkeys are attracted to the fattest males, because this shows these males are successful at finding the most food. The males don't care for the young, but resourcefulness and intelligence can be passed on to the next generation. In Mexican and Polynesian culture, human obesity is a sign of wealth and hence, attractive. In contrast, in America the icons of the fashion industry are as gaunt as skeletons, but they are wearing clothing worth thousands of dollars. Often this wardrobe is useless in terms of keeping the body warm, but attractive none the less. The best example of a human sexual handicap display is the high heel shoe and nylon stocking. In humans, it seems the female is the attractive member of the sexes and she displays to males because they are essential to help raise offspring.

Answer 5

Or for simple answers:


The long feathers in a male are a result of sexual selection, a form of natural selection. Males of many species have display mechanisms that attract females. If the female brains are tuned to seek males that display these features, evolution will favor those males who display them best. This leads to a population genetic change that favors even more elaborate displays, at least until the females don't care anymore.

Answer 6

the simple answer will be easier to explain thank you for your help !

Answer 7

LOL! Your welcome