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Related Concept Videos

Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
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...
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...
Hybrid Zones02:29

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.Gene flow and natural selection are evolutionary mechanisms that shape the outcome of a hybrid zone. Gene flow...
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Migration00:53

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples
07:24

In Situ Hybridization Techniques for Paraffin-Embedded Adult Coral Samples

Published on: August 31, 2018

Character displacement and replicate adaptive radiation.

D Schluter1, J D McPhail

  • 1Dolph Schluter and Don McPhail are at the Dept of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T I Z2.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ecological character displacement, a key aspect of adaptive radiation, is now supported by new evidence. Studies on fish and lizards reveal predictable patterns of divergence during speciation events.

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Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Ecology
  • Speciation research

Background:

  • Ecological character displacement is theorized to be a common outcome of adaptive radiation.
  • Empirical examples of ecological character displacement are historically rare, hindering a full understanding of adaptive radiation.
  • Detecting consistent patterns of displacement across independent lineages presents statistical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and present new examples of ecological character displacement.
  • To investigate whether adaptive radiations follow predictable patterns of divergence.
  • To address the paucity of empirical evidence for character displacement in evolutionary studies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of speciation events in fish populations within postglacial lakes.
  • Examination of ecological and morphological divergence in lizard species on Caribbean islands.
  • Comparative analysis of speciation patterns across independent lineages.

Main Results:

  • Multiple instances of speciation accompanied by significant ecological and morphological divergence were identified in both fish and lizard systems.
  • Observed patterns of divergence were consistent across independent speciation events.
  • These findings provide robust empirical support for the concept of ecological character displacement.

Conclusions:

  • Adaptive radiation may proceed through predictable sequences of ecological and morphological divergence.
  • The detection of character displacement is feasible with appropriate statistical approaches and model systems.
  • New examples strengthen the link between ecological character displacement and adaptive radiation theory.