Widespread loss of sexually selected traits: how the peacock lost its spots

Current and traditional research on sexual selection focuses largely on exp laining the evolution (gain) of elaborate male traits and of female prefere nces for these traits. However, recent phylogenetic studies have revealed a surprising trend: that losses of these elaborate male traits are widesprea d and can be much more common than are gains. Furthermore, recent studies a lso show that female preferences for these male traits can be reduced, lost , or even reversed. These losses of traits and preferences could have impor tant implications for competing models of sexual selection. Integrated phyl ogenetic, experimental and theoretical studies are needed to explain these unexpected patterns.