[ **up: [[Reproduction and sex]]** ] --- # Mate choice [[2025-0313. 'Mate choice is a critical behavioral decision process with profound impact on evolution. However, the mechanistic basis of mate choice is poorly understood.'|'Mate choice is a critical behavioral decision process with profound impact on evolution. However, the mechanistic basis of mate choice is poorly understood.']][^1] [[2025-0313. 'The process of choosing mates can be divided into three stages - (1) reception of signals broadcast by prospective mates; (2) evaluation of the signals by receptive mates; (3) decision to either mate or reject.'|'The process of choosing mates can be divided into three stages: (1) reception of signals broadcast by prospective mates; (2) evaluation of the signals by receptive mates; (3) decision to either mate or reject.']][^2] [[2025-0313. 'The process of choosing mates can be divided into three stages - (1) reception of signals broadcast by prospective mates; (2) evaluation of the signals by receptive mates; (3) decision to either mate or reject.'|Many of the signals emitted by mates and used by choosers to decide have been identified, including coloration in fish; song patterns in insects, birds and amphibians; and chemical signals in rodents.’]][^3] --- ## Specific examples - [[House mouse#Mate choice|Mate choice in the house mouse (Mus musculus)]] [^1]: Léa Zinck & Susana Q. Lima, ‘[[Zinck & Lima. ‘Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State’, 2013.|Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State]]’, *PLOS One*, vol. 8, issue 6 (10 June 2013), p. 1. [^2]: Léa Zinck and Susana Q. Lima, ‘[[Zinck & Lima. ‘Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State’, 2013.|Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State]]’, *PLOS One*, vol. 8, issue 6 (10 June 2013), p. 1. [^3]: Léa Zinck and Susana Q. Lima, ‘[[Zinck & Lima. ‘Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State’, 2013.|Mate Choice in Mus musculus Is Relative and Dependent on the Estrous State]]’, *PLOS One*, vol. 8, issue 6 (10 June 2013), p. 1.