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Related Concept Videos

Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
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Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences01:28

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...

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Experimental Protocol for Manipulating Plant-induced Soil Heterogeneity
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Published on: March 13, 2014

Cascading diversity effects transmitted exclusively by behavioral interactions.

Shawn A Steffan1, William E Snyder

  • 1Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA. shawn_steffan@wsu.edu

Ecology
|September 15, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Higher predator diversity protected plants by altering herbivore behavior, not just by increasing predation. This highlights the power of nonconsumptive effects in ecological interactions.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Community Ecology

Background:

  • Consumer diversity often correlates with increased resource consumption.
  • Nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) of consumers on other species, such as behavioral alterations, are recognized but their scaling with diversity remains unclear.
  • Understanding how predator diversity influences prey behavior and subsequent plant protection is crucial for community ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of predator species richness and predator effects (consumptive and nonconsumptive) on Brassica oleracea plant protection from caterpillar herbivory.
  • To determine if increased predator diversity enhances plant protection through behavioral changes in herbivores, independent of direct consumption.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which predator diversity impacts trophic interactions and plant fitness.

Main Methods:

  • Independent manipulation of predator species richness and the consumptive/nonconsumptive effects of predator communities.
  • Quantification of plant biomass as a measure of protection against herbivory.
  • Observation and analysis of herbivore feeding behavior and predator foraging patterns.

Main Results:

  • Plant biomass was highest when diverse predator assemblages induced antipredator behaviors in herbivores.
  • The protective effect on plants was not significantly enhanced by the addition of consumptive effects (predator-induced mortality).
  • Predators in diverse communities exhibited increased plant foraging and herbivore feeding disruption, linked to reduced conspecific competition.

Conclusions:

  • Predator diversity can confer significant ecological benefits to plants solely through nonconsumptive effects, by initiating behavioral cascades at multiple trophic levels.
  • Emergent effects of species richness can operate independently of resource consumption, driven by behavioral interactions.
  • Behavioral modifications in both predators and herbivores, triggered by predator diversity, are key to enhanced plant protection.