Fecundity selection

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Fecundity selection, also known as fertility selection, is the fitness advantage resulting from selection on traits that increases the number of offspring (i.e. fecundity).^[1] Charles Darwin formulated the theory of fecundity selection between 1871 and 1874 to explain the widespread evolution of female-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD), where females were larger than males.^[2]

Along with the theories of natural selection and sexual selection, fecundity selection is a fundamental component of the modern theory of Darwinian selection. Fecundity selection is distinct^[3] in that large female size relates to the ability to accommodate more offspring, and a higher capacity for energy storage to be invested in reproduction. Darwin's theory of fecundity selection predicts the following:^[1]

1. Fecundity depends on variation in female size, which is associated with fitness.
2. Strong fecundity selection favors large female size, which creates asymmetrical female-biased sexual size dimorphism.

Although sexual selection and fecundity selection are distinct, it still may be difficult to interpret whether sexual dimorphism in nature is due to fecundity selection, or to sexual selection.^[4][5] Examples of fecundity selection in nature include self-incompatibility flowering plants, where pollen of some potential mates are not effective in forming seed,^[6] as well as bird, lizard, fly, and butterfly and moth species that are spread across an ecological gradient.^{[7][8][9][10]}