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Frequency-dependent Selection

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.

Pollination and Flower Structure

Pollination and Flower Structure

Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.

Types of Selection

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...

Inclusive Fitness

Inclusive Fitness

Most altruistic behavior—in which one animal helps another at a cost to themselves—occurs between relatives. Scientists think these altruistic behaviors evolved because they increase the inclusive fitness of the animal providing help.

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea

Published on: November 25, 2016

NEGATIVE FREQUENCY-DEPENDENT SELECTION BY POLLINATORS ON ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS WITHOUT REWARDS.

Ann Smithson¹, Mark R Macnair¹

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, U.K.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|June 2, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Insect pollinators visiting deceptive orchids may favor rare color morphs when unrewarded, driving negative frequency-dependent selection. This pollinator behavior explains stable color polymorphisms in deceptive orchid species.

Keywords:

Bombus terrestris deceptive pollination disassortative mating orchids sampling behavior

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Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Radio Frequency Identification and Motion-sensitive Video Efficiently Automate Recording of Unrewarded Choice Behavior by Bumblebees

Published on: November 15, 2014

Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Many nonmodel orchids exhibit corolla color polymorphism, pollinated by naive insects seeking nectar without mimicry.
Stable polymorphisms suggest negative frequency-dependent selection, potentially driven by pollinator foraging behavior during avoidance learning.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally test if pollinator behavior leads to a preference for rare color morphs in deceptive plant species.
To investigate the role of pollinator foraging strategies in maintaining plant color polymorphisms.

Main Methods:

Laboratory experiments using artificial flowers with varying color morph frequencies and reward presence (sucrose solution).
Observing bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) foraging preferences on rewarded and unrewarded artificial flower arrays.
Analyzing bumblebee visitation patterns to assess preferences for common versus rare morphs and inter-morph movement.

Main Results:

Bumblebees preferred common color morphs when flowers offered sucrose rewards.
When flowers lacked rewards, bumblebees overvisited rare morphs and moved between unrewarding, unlike color morphs.
This suggests a probabilistic sampling strategy in unrewarded foraging.

Conclusions:

Pollinator behavior, specifically overvisiting rare morphs when unrewarded, can create a selective advantage for rare morphs.
This behavior induces negative frequency-dependent selection, supporting the maintenance of stable corolla color polymorphisms in deceptive, non-mimicking plant species.