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Related Concept Videos

Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

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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.
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Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
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Adaptive phenotypic plasticity is under stabilizing selection in Daphnia.

Dörthe Becker1,2,3, Karen Barnard-Kubow4,5, Robert Porter4

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. d.becker@sheffield.ac.uk.

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Summary

Stabilizing selection shapes genetic variation in Daphnia pulex antipredator plasticity. This study reveals how evolutionary forces reduce genetic diversity in areas with the greatest plastic responses, offering insights into fitness-related trait evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Developmental plasticity
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Phenotypic plasticity is adaptive, but evolutionary forces shaping its genetic variation are poorly understood.
  • The role of stabilizing versus diversifying selection on plasticity variation remains an open question.
  • Antipredator developmental plasticity in Daphnia pulex involves morphological changes like pedestal and spike growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary forces driving genetic variation in antipredator developmental plasticity in Daphnia pulex.
  • To determine if stabilizing or diversifying selection is primarily responsible for shaping plasticity.
  • To assess whether these selective forces are constant over time.

Main Methods:

  • Characterized genetic variation in plasticity across over 100 wild-derived Daphnia pulex strains.
  • Utilized a method to describe the entire dorsal shape variation.
  • Compared mutational variation (Vm) to standing variation (Vg) to infer selective pressures.

Main Results:

  • Observed the greatest reduction in genetic variation in dorsal areas with the largest plastic responses.
  • Found that the ratio of standing to mutational variation (Vg/Vm) was lowest in regions of high plasticity.
  • Both findings are consistent with the action of stabilizing selection.

Conclusions:

  • Stabilizing selection directly acts on phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia.
  • This study provides rare empirical evidence for the evolution of fitness-related traits under natural selection.
  • The findings contribute to understanding the maintenance of genetic variation in adaptive traits.