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Biology - Charles Darwin - Theory Of Evolution

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University of New England

   

Biology (BIOL 1010)

   

Added on  2020-03-04

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In this assignment, we will discuss the study that showed that adding predators in the stream decreases the average brightness of the male spot significantly. Also, we covered that the average brightness of the male spot increased significantly when the predators were eliminated from the stream. The first hypothesis was thus accepted corresponding to the fact that the male spot brightness is established by the risk of adult predation.

Biology - Charles Darwin - Theory Of Evolution

   

University of New England

   

Biology (BIOL 1010)

   Added on 2020-03-04

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1Running head:BIOLOGYBiologyName of student:Name of university:Author note:
Biology - Charles Darwin - Theory Of Evolution_1
2BIOLOGYIntroductionCharles Darwin, in his theory of evolution, put forward a theory on mechanismjustifying descent with modification. As per this theory, in case a certain population oforganisms exhibits inheritance, variation and differential reproductive success, chances arefull that the composition of this population changes significantly from one generation toanother (Laland et al., 2014). Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are aquarium fish that aredramatically patterned. Guppies are found in their natural habitat of mountain streams foundin tropical forests in northeasternTrinidad, Margarita Island, Venezuela, and Tobago (Banetet al., 2016). Wild males might not be profligately ornamented; however, they too areimpressively beautiful. Spots, stripes and splashes of a range of vibrant colours are worn bythem, such as blue, black, orange and yellow (Kodric-Brown, 1985). The famousevolutionary biologist John Endler studied the bewildering colouful patterns of wild guppiesof Trinidad in the 1970s, after mystified by the variation among these fishes. He noted thatmale guppies living in one pool had vivid orange and blue splotches on the sides while thoseliving downstream had only small dots in their tails (Deacon & Magurran, 2016). Further,differences in the distribution of guppy predators were distinct. Endler carried out theresearch with the hypothesis that the predators present in the aquatic systems are accountablefor the variation among the populations. This idea emerged from the fact that that guppyliving in the stream with predatory cichlids had less number of spots on their bodies ascompared to guppies living with Rivulus (Endler, 1980). The present laboratory work aimed at challenging learners to design a study thatallowed for the documentation of evolution by natural selection in nature. The purpose was toconduct a field exploration on wild guppies and evaluate the variation among males in anumber of wild populations. The EvoBeaker simulations used in the work are based on thedefinitive study carried out by John Endler of natural selection in guppies. The rationale for
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