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Chapter 5: Problem 9

What is an ecotype?

Short Answer

Expert verified
An ecotype is a genetically distinct population of a species that is locally adapted to its specific environment due to genetic differentiation. Ecotypes evolve through natural selection, which favors traits that improve individual fitness in a particular habitat. Understanding ecotypes is essential for several reasons, including conservation, agriculture, and medicine. Recognizing distinct ecotypes helps design more effective conservation strategies, allows farmers to select plant varieties adapted to local conditions, and can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Examples of ecotypes can be found in plants, animals, and other organisms.

Step by step solution

01

Define ecotype

An ecotype is a distinct population of a species that is locally adapted to its specific environment due to genetic differentiation. These genetic differences occur to improve the population's fitness and ability to survive and reproduce in its unique habitat.
02

Explain the evolution of ecotypes

Ecotypes evolve due to natural selection, which favors the traits that contribute to the fitness of individuals in a particular environment. When populations of a species live in different habitats with varying environmental conditions, genetic mutations that confer advantages in one habitat may not be advantageous in another. Over time, these genetic variations can accumulate in the separate populations, leading to the formation of ecotypes.
03

Provide examples of ecotypes

An example of ecotypes can be seen in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which has different ecotypes adapted to various environmental conditions such as temperature, altitude, and soil composition. Another example is the Atlantic cod, which inhabits different regions of the ocean, with various ecotypes exhibiting differences in growth rate, size, and life history traits.
04

Discuss the importance of ecotypes

Understanding ecotypes is essential for several reasons, including: 1. Conservation: Recognizing distinct ecotypes within a species can help in designing more effective conservation strategies, as the loss of an ecotype may represent the loss of a unique genetic lineage. 2. Agriculture: Farmers can select plant varieties adapted to specific local conditions, resulting in better yield and resilience against environmental stressors. 3. Medicine: Identifying ecotypes can lead to a better understanding of the genetic basis for various biological traits and processes, which can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies.
05

Conclusion

In summary, an ecotype is a genetically distinct population of a species adapted to a specific environment. Ecotypes evolve through natural selection, which favors traits that increase individual fitness in a particular habitat. Examples of ecotypes can be found in plants, animals, and other organisms, and understanding ecotypes is crucial for conservation, agriculture, and medicinal applications.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If the phenotype trait of an \(A a\) heterozygous individual is the same as that of an \(A A\) homozygous individual, which allele is recessive?

Why is natural selection the only process that can result in adaptation?

Why are small populations more prone to variations in allele frequency from generation to generation as a result of genetic drift than are large populations?

What is meant by gene pool?

David Reznick, an ecologist at the University of California at Riverside, studied the process of natural selection in populations of guppies (small freshwater fish) on the island of Trinidad. Reznick found that populations at lower elevations face the assault of predatory fish, whereas the populations at higher elevations live in peace because few predators can move upstream past the waterfalls. The average size of individuals in the higherelevation waters is larger than the average size of guppies in the lower-elevation populations. Reznick hypothesized that the smaller size of individuals in the lower-elevation populations was a result of increased rates of predation on larger individuals; in effect, predation was selecting for smaller individuals in the population. To test this hypothesis, Reznick moved individuals from the lower elevations to unoccupied pools upstream, where predation was not a factor. Eleven years in these conditions produced a population of individuals that were on average larger than the individuals of the downstream populations. Is the study by Reznick an example of natural selection (does it meet the necessary conditions)? If so, what type of selection does it represent (directional, stabilizing, or disruptive)? Can you think of any alternative hypotheses to explain why the average size of individuals may have shifted through time as a result of moving the population to the upstream (higherelevation) environment?
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