Polymorphic Natural Selection

Pervious studies focused on natural selection by predation being a strong contributing factor of polymorphic color distribution in a population. While there is some truth in this model, it may overlook the importance that sexual selection plays, as will be depicted in the following examples.

Many examples demonstrate that animals in a particular species tend to mate with individuals that share similar color patterns, in fact it is rare to see individuals with dissimilar color patterns mate. Gouldian finch, provide a good example of color morphs mating with their respective ideal mate, red with red and black with black. Those finches which may result as a hybrids due to gene flow tend to have lower fitness, which can be seen on the Z chromosome.