The hunk and the show-off do not always get the girl

摘要

"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the Earth." Taken as an evolutionary imperative, that seems straightforward enough. But in reality, identifying the best way of doing it can be difficult, whether for individuals seeking romance, or scientists studying reproductive behaviour.rnThe scientists, at least, have made demonstrable progress. Two studies published this week-one by Jonathan Evans, of the University of Western Australia, the other by Tom Tregenza of the University ofrnExeter, in England-show that in fish and insects there is more than one path to mating success, and that the biggest, flashiest males do not always do better than their less assuming brethren.