Split the population of all female ducks into two groups: those that can control the genes passed on to their offspring and those who can’t. From the female per

Split the population of all female ducks into two groups: those that can control the genes passed on to their offspring and those who can’t. From the female perspective, this is the question. Which group will be more successful? The risk of drowning during mating is the same for both groups. So, neither group gets a natural selection advantage from being less likely to drown, because it is a constant risk for both groups. The key here is that the males don’t know if the successfully mated with the female (passed on their genes) or not. Only the female knows.