Affiliation: | (1) School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;(2) Division of Biology and NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, SL5 7PY Ascot, Berkshire, UK |
Abstract: | Background Condition-dependence is a ubiquitous feature of animal life histories and has important implications for both natural and sexual selection. Mate choice, for instance, is typically based on condition-dependent signals. Theory predicts that one reason why condition-dependent signals may be special is that they allow females to scan for genes that confer high parasite resistance. Such explanations require a genetic link between immunocompetence and body condition, but existing evidence is limited to phenotypic associations. It remains unknown, therefore, whether females selecting males with good body condition simply obtain a healthy mate, or if they acquire genes for their offspring that confer high immunocompetence. |