Frequency-Dependent Selection in Cichlid Fish Species
What factors influenced frequency-dependent selection in the cichlid fish species being studied?
a) Scale growth patterns of the prey fish species
b) Differential feeding success by predatory cichlids on different sizes of prey species
c) Differential guarding response of prey toward two morphs of the predatory cichlid species O
Answer:
In frequency-dependent selection, the fitness of a particular phenotype depends on its frequency in the population relative to other phenotypes. The selection pressures that influenced frequency-dependent selection in the cichlid fish species being studied were:
b) Differential feeding success by predatory cichlids on different sizes of prey species
c) Differential guarding response of prey toward two morphs of the predatory cichlid species O
Frequent-dependent selection is a key concept in evolutionary biology, where the fitness of a phenotype is linked to its frequency within a population. In the case of the cichlid fish species studied, two main factors influenced frequency-dependent selection: the differential feeding success on different prey sizes by predatory cichlids and the varied guarding responses of the prey towards two morphs of the predatory cichlid species O.
The feeding success of predatory cichlids on various sizes of prey species creates selection pressures on the frequencies of those specific sizes within the prey population. For example, if smaller prey species are more successful at evading predation, they may become more prevalent in the population over time, leading to shifts in the frequencies of different prey sizes.
On the other hand, the differential guarding responses of the prey towards the two morphs of predatory cichlid species O can also impact frequency-dependent selection. Depending on the effectiveness of each morph in capturing prey based on the prey's responses, the frequencies of the morphs within the predator population can be influenced.
Overall, these interactions between predators and prey highlight how frequency-dependent selection can shape the distribution and abundance of different phenotypes within the cichlid fish species. By understanding the factors that drive these selection pressures, researchers can gain insights into the mechanisms of evolutionary change within populations.