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Related Concept Videos

Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

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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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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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Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.
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Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.
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Evolutionary Psychology01:20

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Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
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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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Negative frequency dependent selection unites ecology and evolution.

Mark R Christie1,2, Gordon G McNickle1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA.

Ecology and Evolution
|July 24, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Negative frequency dependent selection (NFDS) is a key biological mechanism that maintains diversity by favoring rare entities. This review explores NFDS

Keywords:
balancing selectionbiodiversitycoexistencediversityevolutionary ecologygenetic diversity

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics
  • Biodiversity Science

Background:

  • Maintaining biological diversity from genes to communities is a fundamental question in biology.
  • Negative frequency dependent selection (NFDS) is a potentially ubiquitous yet challenging mechanism for diversity maintenance.
  • NFDS occurs when an entity's fitness decreases with increasing relative abundance, allowing rare entities to persist.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of NFDS in the maintenance of diversity.
  • To connect NFDS with ecological coexistence.
  • To highlight the intersection of ecology and evolution through NFDS.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis.
  • Identification of NFDS mechanisms (mutualism, predation, parasitism).
  • Distinguishing NFDS from other coexistence mechanisms (storage effects, fluctuating selection).

Main Results:

  • NFDS plays a central role in maintaining diversity by preventing competitive exclusion.
  • NFDS mechanisms are diverse and include ecological interactions.
  • NFDS provides a crucial link between ecological frequency dependence and evolutionary selection.

Conclusions:

  • NFDS is a significant factor in the maintenance of diversity across biological scales.
  • Bridging ecology and evolution through NFDS offers mechanistic insights into diversity.
  • Further research linking ecological frequency dependence to evolutionary selection is warranted.