Poor-quality males pay steeper costs for large weapons and so invest less

Evidence

A number of theoretical models also conclude that small, poor-quality males pay a steeper price for big ornaments or weapons and that, as a result, it’s not cost-effective for them to invest in full-sized structures. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 797

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 797
• XREF: connects to: Only a minority of males can afford to build full-size weapons — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 326; Big weapons only benefit males with the reserves to wield them effectively — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 355; Weapon costs follow the same handicap economics in nations as in individuals — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 924 (+3 more)

Related

• Only a minority of males can afford to build full-size weapons (similarity 0.95)
• Big weapons only benefit males with the reserves to wield them effectively (similarity 0.90)
• Weapon costliness keeps signals honest by excluding weaker males (similarity 0.89)
• Weapon growth widens the gap between the best- and worst-armed males. (similarity 0.89)
• Bigger weapons usually fail because their costs outweigh their benefits (similarity 0.88)
• Weapons evolve only when reproductive benefits exceed costs (similarity 0.88)
• Weapon expense is what keeps signals of fighting ability honest (similarity 0.87)
• Weapon size in animal species is under stabilizing selection, not open-ended directional selection (similarity 0.87)
• Natural selection usually favors modest weapon size because cost offsets benefit (similarity 0.86)
• Weapon costs follow the same handicap economics in nations as in individuals (similarity 0.85)
• Most male ungulates never reproduce because weapon costs are so extreme (similarity 0.85)
• Weapons grow late because development prioritizes mandatory survival expenses first (similarity 0.84)
• Cheating males erode the reproductive payoff of weapons, capping their evolution (similarity 0.84)
• Reproductive success, not survival, drives the largest animal weapons (similarity 0.84)
• Weapon-bearing male deer pay extreme costs and most never mate (similarity 0.84)

Broader Connections

• Big weapons only benefit males with the reserves to wield them effectively #qualifies (0.75) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 355
• Natural selection usually favors modest weapon size because cost offsets benefit #corroborates (0.70) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 21
• Only a minority of males can afford to build full-size weapons #qualifies (0.60) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 326
• Weapon growth widens the gap between the best- and worst-armed males. #expands (0.60) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 386
• Weapon costliness keeps signals honest by excluding weaker males #complicates (0.55)
• Weapon costs follow the same handicap economics in nations as in individuals #expands (0.45) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 924