How might this information be applied to address grand challenges?
I really enjoy how the textbook offers real world applications. Antibiotic resistance is a big issue especially with pandemics and insecticides is another great real world issue to think about when applying this knowledge.
Variation arises through a combination of genetic mutations, environmental influences, and the interplay of genes and environment. Variations within populations allow species to adapt to changing environments over time, ensuring the continued survival and success of different species in their respective ecosystems.
We discussed this in PB 360 but the genetic mutations must cause more benefit than harm to the species in order to be passed on. Some genetic mutations can be harmful for species but somehow increase their fitness and ability to reproduce however the pros must outlay the cons.
An adaptation to one selective pressure may not increase fitness in later generations.
This is apparent with climate change, each generation faces different environments and ever changing environments which makes adaptations so important to species.
Read through the figure below for examples of several evolutionary processes at work in conservation management.
Reading this reminded me of when wolves were re-introduced into Yellowstone national park. This could have also happened during their reintroduction but what's so cool about their reintroduction is how they changed the environment due to their presence in the park. I wonder if this could connect to possible changes in phenotypes and genotypes (as discussed later on in this chapter) of other species due to the wolves effect of changing the environment.
f a population gives rise to offspring with the same phenotype in the novel environment, the trait is primarily influenced by the environment and therefore results from phenotypic plasticity.
This reminded me of Gregor Mendel pea plant experiments and how certain traits are inherited.