Does Predator Environment Predict Life History Traits in the Livebearing Fish Poecillia gillii?

Authors

K. Nicole Schoonmaker, Brigham Young University
Dr. Jerald B. Johnson, Brigham Young University

Keywords

predator environment, life history traits, livebearing gish, Poecillia gillii

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

The process of natural selection drives the evolution of species which results in the survival of individuals whose traits are most adaptable to a specific environment and the death of individuals whose traits are less fit. Thus, populations of a single species that reside in habitats with differing environmental pressures can have different physical (phenotypic) or genetic (genotypic) traits. An understanding of the environmental pressures that create variation in traits and observation of that variation is important to understanding the adaptability and evolution of living organisms.

Recommended Citation

Schoonmaker, K. Nicole and Johnson, Dr. Jerald B. (2013) "Does Predator Environment Predict Life History Traits in the Livebearing Fish Poecillia gillii?," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1082.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1082