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Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
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A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...
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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.
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Ecological Niches

All organisms have a position within an ecosystem. The complete set of living and nonliving factors—including food resources, climate, and terrain—that define the position of a given organism are collectively referred to as the organism’s ecological niche.Multiple species cannot occupy the exact same niche within their habitat. If the niches of two or more species overlap to a large extent, the competitive exclusion principle dictates that one species will outcompete the other, forcing it to...
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Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
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Species borders: ecological and evolutionary perspectives.

A A Hoffmann1, M W Blows

  • 1Dept of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.

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

Ecological studies examine species borders to understand environmental causes and traits. Marginal populations may adapt to harsh conditions but struggle in favorable ones, though this area is often overlooked in evolutionary biology.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Species borders are crucial ecological boundaries.
  • Research on species borders often involves interspecific comparisons, marginal population studies, and experimental manipulations.
  • Evolutionary biology has largely overlooked species borders, despite their ecological significance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review ecological studies on species borders.
  • To highlight the methods used to establish causation for environmental factors and identify traits at species borders.
  • To underscore the limited attention species borders receive in evolutionary biology.

Main Methods:

  • Interspecific comparisons.
  • Detailed investigations of marginal populations.
  • Experimental manipulation.

Main Results:

  • Studies utilize various approaches to determine environmental causation and traits at species borders.
  • Marginal populations may exhibit enhanced adaptation to unfavorable conditions.
  • Marginal populations might perform poorly under typical or favorable conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Species borders are complex ecological zones requiring further investigation.
  • Marginal populations display unique adaptive strategies.
  • Increased focus on species borders is needed in evolutionary biology research.