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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
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...
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...

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Evolution in heterogeneous environments: between soft and hard selection.

Florence Débarre1, Sylvain Gandon

  • 1Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche, Montpellier, France. florence.debarre@normalesup.org

The American Naturalist
|April 5, 2011
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a new model for evolution in diverse environments, considering migration timing. It reveals that intermediate selection scenarios, particularly with lower juvenile migration, promote genetic diversity and species coexistence.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics
  • Theoretical Ecology

Background:

  • Classical soft and hard selection models analyze selection in subdivided populations based on density regulation timing.
  • These models represent extreme scenarios: soft (density- and frequency-dependent) and hard (density- and frequency-independent) selection.
  • Few models explore intermediate scenarios between soft and hard selection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a theoretical framework modeling intermediate selection scenarios in population genetics.
  • To investigate the impact of migration timing (juvenile vs. adult) on evolutionary outcomes.
  • To determine conditions favoring the coexistence of specialists and the evolution of polymorphism.

Main Methods:

  • A novel model incorporating two migration opportunities: before (juvenile) and after (adult) density regulation.
  • Analysis of conditions for the coexistence of two specialist species.
  • Investigation of evolutionary outcomes, including polymorphism, under varying selection and migration parameters.

Main Results:

  • Coexistence of specialists is possible across a wide range of selection types, even with low environmental heterogeneity.
  • Polymorphism is more likely with weak trade-offs, high environmental heterogeneity, and low overall migration.
  • The ratio of juvenile to adult migration significantly influences frequency-dependent selection relative to gene flow, impacting polymorphism likelihood.

Conclusions:

  • The developed model offers a more generalized framework for studying evolution in heterogeneous environments.
  • Migration timing is a critical factor influencing the balance between selection and gene flow.
  • The findings provide insights into the maintenance of genetic diversity and species coexistence in natural populations.