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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...
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.
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.
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.
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...

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Related Experiment Video

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Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions
07:54

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions

Published on: March 9, 2021

Environmental variation and selection on performance curves.

Joel G Kingsolver1, Richard Gomulkiewicz

  • 1Department of Biology, CB-3280, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.

Integrative and Comparative Biology
|June 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Environmental variation influences organismal performance curves. This study develops a framework to quantify environmental impacts on performance and predict natural selection, using caterpillar growth as a case study.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Organismal performance often varies with environmental factors, forming 'performance curves'.
  • Environmental conditions influence both the expression of performance and its relationship with fitness.
  • Understanding how environmental variation shapes natural selection on performance is crucial for evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and illustrate an approach for quantifying environmental variation's impact on performance curves.
  • To predict how fine-grained environmental variation determines natural selection on performance curves.
  • To investigate whether selection acts on specific performance levels or integrated performance traits.

Main Methods:

  • Quantifying natural environmental variation and its field impact on performance.
  • Developing a theoretical model to predict selection on performance curves based on environmental variation.
  • Estimating and comparing directional selection on performance curves with theoretical predictions.

Main Results:

  • The study outlines a three-component approach to analyze environmental influences on performance curves.
  • The approach was applied to thermal performance curves of growth rate in Pieris caterpillars.
  • It provides a method to assess selection acting on specific performance optima versus overall performance integration.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental variation critically influences natural selection on physiological and organismal performance.
  • The developed framework allows for quantitative assessment of selection pressures on performance curves.
  • This research offers insights into the evolutionary responses of organisms to environmental heterogeneity.