Female widowbirds that prefer to mate with long-tailed males produce long-tailed sons and daughters that also prefer males with long tails. This is an example of

A) direct benefits.
B) the good genes model of sexual selection.
C) the runaway selection model of sexual selection.
D) the chase-away selection model of sexual selection.

The runaway selection model of sexual selection explains this scenario, where an initially arbitrary female preference for a specific trait (in this case, long tails) leads to an evolutionary process where males with longer tails are more likely to reproduce, not necessarily because the trait itself offers survival advantages, but because it is preferred by females. This preference is then passed on to the next generation, creating a positive feedback loop that can lead to exaggerated male traits.