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How do females choose?
Firstly, how do the females gain from leks when they only get genes for their children. 
Theorists argue that females will only have a limited choice in genes because genetic differences in males would end up being phased out if the females just pick the most attractive males in the lek. However, direct measurements have been taken on genetic variation and it shows that a high proportion of variation in male sexual characteristics comes from genetic variation (beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder); therefore females still do have a wide choice of characteristics.
When in a lek, choice is primarily on genes as there is no parental control. There are 3 ideas on how a females makes the choice:
1. They prefer males who display honest costly signals that they have superior genes – this idea is based on the handicap theory.
2. Females prefer males with higher fitness and their genes will come together making sure her preference genes get into the next generation, they work on traits for males that may be disadvantageous for them – this idea is based on the runaway theory.
3. Females may actually inherit sensory capacities from their ancestors that bias the traits that they select for in males. For example colour blind females will select males with striking black and white patterns
These indicator mechanisms means that females can select males that can sire offspring with superior fitness
