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Related Concept Videos

Competition02:34

Competition

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When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.
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Mate Choice01:20

Mate Choice

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Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
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Types of Selection01:46

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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...
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Hybrid Zones02:29

Hybrid Zones

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Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.
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Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

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Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
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Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

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A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

The Three-Chamber Choice Behavioral Task using Zebrafish as a Model System
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Increased Levels of Perceived Competition Decrease Juvenile Kin-Shoaling Preferences in a Cichlid Fish.

Timo Thünken, Saskia Hesse, Denis Meuthen

    The American Naturalist
    |May 5, 2020
    PubMed
    Summary

    Juveniles adjust kin grouping based on perceived competition. High competition reduces kin preference, optimizing inclusive fitness by avoiding intense in-group rivalry.

    Keywords:
    Pelvicachromis taeniatuscooperationgroup livinginclusive fitnesskin recognitionkin selection

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral Ecology
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Animal Behavior

    Background:

    • Inclusive fitness theory suggests grouping with kin increases indirect fitness.
    • However, kin competition can negate these benefits, influenced by environmental factors.
    • Plasticity in kin discrimination is adaptive to variable competition levels.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if perceived competition affects juvenile kin-shoaling preferences in cichlids.
    • To determine if cichlids plastically adjust kin preference based on resource availability.
    • To test the hypothesis that kin competition influences kin recognition.

    Main Methods:

    • Experimental manipulation of perceived competition via food limitation in cichlid juveniles.
    • Assessing shoaling preferences between kin and non-kin groups.
    • Differential energy expenditure of fish sizes considered in competition manipulation.

    Main Results:

    • Juvenile kin-shoaling preference decreased with increasing perceived competition.
    • Small, food-deprived individuals showed reduced preference for kin.
    • Evidence suggests kin grouping under high competition may decrease indirect fitness.

    Conclusions:

    • Cichlids exhibit plastic adjustments in kin-grouping preferences based on perceived competition.
    • This behavioral plasticity likely enhances inclusive fitness by mitigating kin competition.
    • Findings support the adaptive significance of flexible kin discrimination in variable environments.