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Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

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.

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

Gene Flow

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Rapid evolution promotes fluctuation-dependent species coexistence.

Masato Yamamichi^1,2, Andrew D Letten¹

¹School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.

Ecology Letters

|February 22, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Rapid evolution promotes species coexistence through temporal fluctuations and adaptive trade-offs. This expands coexistence theory, offering a solution to the

Keywords:

Adaptive foraging Armstrong-McGehee mechanism breeding suppression competition dormancy eco-evolutionary dynamics fitness gradient gleaner-opportunist trade-off phenotypic plasticity relative nonlinearity

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Population Dynamics

Background:

Contemporary evolution significantly influences population dynamics on ecological timescales.
Rapid evolution can drive species coexistence through novel mechanisms.

Discussion:

Identifies a new mode of rapid evolution promoting species coexistence via temporal fluctuations.
Highlights a trade-off between competitive ability and adaptive evolution speed.

Key Insights:

This interaction broadens coexistence conditions, even without a classical gleaner-opportunist trade-off.
Offers a solution to the 'paradox of the plankton' by expanding fluctuation-dependent coexistence theory.

Outlook:

Real-world oscillatory dynamics and varied adaptation rates (including rapid evolution and phenotypic plasticity) support this model.
Suggests rapid evolution is a key factor in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability.