Fig. 1

Schematic representation of selected aspects or components of the network of relationships responsible for the dynamics of natural Selection driving biological evolution. Individual Selection (i) represents natural selection acting on the individual; Sexual Selection (s) that acts on mate selection strategies and intra-sex competition; and Inclusive Fitness (o) cycles represents the coevolutionary effect on selection of the action of other organisms. Variation represents genetic mutations and phenotypic variations, Reproduction represents the reproductive and life history strategies of individuals, and Mating stands for sexual reproduction. Organisms suffer evolution through Individual Selection (bold arrows), which in turn is affected by at least two other cycles: Sexual Selection and Inclusive Fitness. Evolution among asexuals differs from this description (Jaffe 1996), as no mating’s occurrs