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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.
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

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...
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...
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...
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Evolution and speciation on holey adaptive landscapes.

S Gavrilets1

  • 1The Depts of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Mathematics, Institute for Environmental Modeling, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-1300,USA.

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

Sewall Wright's adaptive landscape metaphor, while influential, is limited by its low dimensionality. Multidimensional landscapes reveal that challenges like crossing adaptive valleys may not exist in real biological evolution.

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Theoretical biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Sewall Wright's rugged adaptive landscape metaphor has dominated evolutionary and speciation theory for decades.
  • This metaphor, emphasizing peaks and valleys, is largely a construct of our limited three-dimensional perception.
  • Biological systems possess numerous genetic and phenotypic characteristics, implying vastly higher-dimensional adaptive landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the conventional, low-dimensional view of adaptive landscapes.
  • To explore the implications of multidimensionality for understanding evolution and speciation.
  • To propose an alternative framework for evolutionary dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of adaptive landscape dimensionality.
  • Theoretical examination of evolutionary processes in high-dimensional spaces.
  • Critique of existing models, such as Wright's shifting balance theory.

Main Results:

  • Properties of adaptive landscapes drastically change with increased dimensionality.
  • Theoretical challenges in low-dimensional models, like traversing adaptive valleys, may be absent in multidimensional contexts.
  • A multidimensional perspective offers a plausible alternative to rugged adaptive landscapes.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional adaptive landscape metaphor is an oversimplification due to its low dimensionality.
  • Evolutionary processes, including speciation, may operate differently in high-dimensional biological spaces.
  • A new framework based on multidimensional adaptive landscapes is needed to accurately model evolution.