Improved growth and survival of offspring of peacocks with more elaborate trains

Abstract

THERE is considerable controversy about what females gain from mate choice in a lekking species in which males provide no obvious resources. Females may gain direct benefits such as safe copula-tions or increased fertility by mating with particular males, or they may gain indirect benefits for their offspring^1–3. It is difficult to look for paternal effects on offspring performance because it is hard to control for any differences in the material and genetic contribution provided by the female and in the environment of the offspring during development; previous experiments have con-trolled for rearing environment but not maternal effects⁴. Here I report results from a controlled breeding experiment, with females allocated to males at random and all offspring reared under the same conditions, which show that the offspring of successful lek peacocks (Pavo cristatus) with the most elaborate trains grow and survive better under nearly natural conditions.