Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

30.8K
Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
30.8K
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

1.8K
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,...
1.8K
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

212
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
212
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

40.3K
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.
40.3K
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

30.0K
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.
30.0K
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

35.4K
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.
35.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Biodiversity effects under climate extremes intensify with aridity in grasslands but not forests.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Biodiversity buffers forest ecosystems from compound climate extremes.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Evolutionary history drives organ-specific variability in plant non-structural carbohydrates.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Biogeography of community canopy leaf traits and their links to global forest photosynthesis.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and warming intensify plant reliance on soil nitrogen reserves despite intensive fertilization.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The role of microbial resource mutualists in plant adaptation to abiotic environments.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

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

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

21.5K

Indirect effects drive evolutionary responses to global change.

Jennifer A Lau1,2, Ruth G Shaw3, Peter B Reich4,5

  • 1Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA.

The New Phytologist
|October 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2) indirectly impacts plant evolution by altering competition, not through direct evolutionary effects. This research highlights how global changes affect species interactions and subsequent evolutionary trajectories.

Keywords:
G matrixcarbon dioxide (CO2)competitiondirect and indirect effectsgenetic variationnatural selection

More Related Videos

Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling
20:36

Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling

Published on: July 4, 2007

8.2K
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

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

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

21.5K
Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling
20:36

Predicting the Effectiveness of Population Replacement Strategy Using Mathematical Modeling

Published on: July 4, 2007

8.2K
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.2K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Ecology
  • Plant science

Background:

  • Anthropogenic environmental changes significantly threaten biodiversity.
  • Environmental changes can alter species interactions, influencing evolutionary trajectories.
  • Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) has minimal direct effects on plant evolution but significant indirect effects via species interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if elevated CO2 indirectly alters plant evolution by modifying competitive interactions.
  • To understand the role of interspecific competition as a driver of evolution under different CO2 conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental manipulation of competitive environments and CO2 levels for Arabidopsis thaliana populations.
  • Analysis of selection, heritability, and genetic covariances in response to competition and eCO2.

Main Results:

  • Interspecific competition intensified selection on growth traits, reduced heritability, and altered genetic covariances.
  • The impact of competition on these evolutionary parameters was dependent on the CO2 environment.
  • Elevated CO2 generally weakened competitive selection, thereby relaxing selection on plant traits.

Conclusions:

  • Global changes, particularly elevated CO2, can indirectly influence plant evolution by altering competitive interactions.
  • Understanding species interactions within natural communities is crucial for predicting population responses to global change.
  • The indirect effects of environmental change on evolution mediated by species interactions are significant.