Figure 1.

Mating systems and sex-specific selection. Sex-specific selection is strongly influenced by mating system. The potential for conflict between female- and male-specific selection is lowest in monogamous systems. In mating systems with large differences in reproductive potential, the divergence in male and female fitness optima is greater, as is the probability that sex-specific selection forces are contradictory. As a result, the potential for sexual conflict is predicted to increase with the magnitude of difference in mating success. Additionally, polyandrous and polygynous species are often characterized by large differences between male and female parental effort and other aspects of life histories, which creates ample scope for sex-specific selection. Thus, sex-specific selection and sexual conflict may play a more significant role in polygnous and polyandrous mating systems than monogamous systems.