Re: Tail Feathers and sexual selection

[James Davis <>]

Mark:  Thanks for the references.

On Wed, 25 Mar 1998, Mark E. Mulhollam wrote:

> 
>     Yes, it appears eye color can indicate health status and this may be 
> used as a basis for female choice.  "In red jungle fowl, females preferred 
> males with more brilliantly colored eyes and combs, both 
> carotenoid-dependent traits and both influenced by nematode gut parasites 
> (Zuk at al., 1990).  

I heard her talk last year at the Univ. of Queensland, but don't recall
that she was able to seperate eye colour from comb colour.  I'll re-read
the article

> As an aside, when Zahavi first published his ideas, they were not 
> well accepted, something as a graduate student at the time in evolutionary 
> biology, I never understood.  I am happy to say that his ideas have gained 
> wide acceptance in recent years.

I very optimistic assessment, but the handicap principle is capable of
generating a lot of new ideas.
 
Thanks for the reply

Cheers, Jim