Females from the same population usually have phenotypic variation in their mating preferences. However, the effects of this within‐population variation on the sexual selection acting on males are still unclear. We used individual‐based models to explore how within‐population variation in female preference (i.e. which male trait value is preferred) and preference strength (i.e. how strong the preference is) affects the opportunity for sexual selection (Is) and the evolution of a sexually selected male trait. We found the highest Is values when females had high variation in preference and an open‐ended preference function. The lowest Is occurred when the magnitude of variation in female preference and male trait value were the same and preference function was closed. Male trait exaggeration was higher when there was high within‐population variation in preference and females had an open‐ended preference function. Also, higher male trait variation was maintained by high variation in preference, but only for a closed preference function. Thus, we found that only within‐population variation in female preference, not in preference strength, influences the opportunity for sexual selection and the evolution of sexually selected male traits. Moreover, we found that the shape of the preference function (i.e. open‐ended or closed) and the magnitude of within‐population variation in female preference compared to male trait variation also influences the Is and consequently the evolution of male traits.

中文翻译：

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女性交配偏好的种群内变异影响性选择的机会和男性特征的进化，但事情并不像预期的那么简单

来自同一种群的雌性通常在交配偏好上有表型变异。然而，这种种群内变异对作用于雄性的性选择的影响尚不清楚。我们使用基于个体的模型来探索女性偏好（即偏好哪种男性特征值）和偏好强度（即偏好的强度）的种群内变化如何影响性选择 (Is) 的机会和性选择的男性特征。我们发现，当女性的偏好变化较大且具有开放式偏好函数时，Is 值最高。当女性偏好和男性特质值的变化幅度相同且偏好函数关闭时，Is出现最低。当偏好的种群内差异较大且女性具有开放式偏好函数时，男性特质夸大程度更高。此外，较高的男性性状变异由偏好的高变异维持，但仅适用于封闭的偏好函数。因此，我们发现只有女性偏好的种群内变异，而不是偏好强度，影响性选择的机会和性选择的男性特征的进化。此外，我们发现偏好函数的形状（即开放式或封闭式）和雌性偏好与雄性性状变异相比的种群内变异幅度也会影响 Is，从而影响雄性性状的进化。较高的男性性状变异由偏好的高变异维持，但仅适用于封闭的偏好函数。因此，我们发现只有女性偏好的种群内变异，而不是偏好强度，影响性选择的机会和性选择的男性特征的进化。此外，我们发现偏好函数的形状（即开放式或封闭式）和雌性偏好与雄性性状变异相比的种群内变异幅度也会影响 Is，从而影响雄性性状的进化。较高的男性性状变异由偏好的高变异维持，但仅适用于封闭的偏好函数。因此，我们发现只有女性偏好的种群内变异，而不是偏好强度，影响性选择的机会和性选择的男性特征的进化。此外，我们发现偏好函数的形状（即开放式或封闭式）和女性偏好与男性性状变异相比的种群内变化幅度也会影响 Is，从而影响男性性状的进化。