When females can defeat all the females ranked below them and none of the females ranked above them, dominance relationships are said to be
A) unlikely to produce sexual selection.
B) unstable.
C) transitive.
D) explained by intersexual competition.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When dominance relationships are transitive, it means that there is a clear, linear hierarchy among females where each female can defeat all those ranked below them but not those ranked above them. This indicates a stable and consistent hierarchy, which can lead to the evolution of sexual selection, as males may prefer to mate with higher-ranked females in order to pass on their genes for success and dominance. This is not explained by intersexual competition, as dominance hierarchies are typically formed through intrasexual competition among females.

When Females Can Defeat All the Females Ranked Below Them