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Artificial ecosystem selection
W Swenson1, D S Wilson, R Elias
1Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA.
Summary
Artificial selection can shape entire ecosystems, not just individual organisms. This research demonstrates heritable variation in laboratory ecosystems, challenging the idea that selection is limited to lower biological levels.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Experimental Ecology
Background:
- Artificial selection has historically focused on modifying traits of individual organisms.
- Darwin utilized artificial selection as a key argument for his theory of natural selection.
- The effectiveness of selection at different biological hierarchical levels is a subject of debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether artificial selection can be applied to shape the properties of entire ecosystems.
- To determine if phenotypic variation observed in artificial ecosystems is heritable.
- To explore the role of complex interactions in ecosystem-level evolution.
Main Methods:
- Initiation of laboratory ecosystems composed of thousands of species and millions of individuals.
- Application of artificial selection procedures to these experimental ecosystems.
- Phenotypic assessment of ecosystem properties and analysis of heritability.
Main Results:
- Laboratory-initiated ecosystems exhibit significant phenotypic variation.
- A portion of this observed phenotypic variation within ecosystems is demonstrated to be heritable.
- Artificial ecosystem selection is shown to be a viable procedure.
Conclusions:
- Artificial selection can effectively shape the characteristics of whole ecosystems.
- Ecosystem-level artificial selection highlights the significant role of complex interactions in evolutionary processes.
- This study challenges the prevailing view that selection is predominantly effective at lower biological organizational levels.