One factor favoring rapid population growth by an introduced...

Name: Problem 9, Chapter 56: Campbell Biology
Uploaded: 2021-02-15T21:22:28-08:00
Duration: 4 min 1 s
Channel: Courtney Burson
Description: One factor favoring rapid population growth by an introduced species is the absence of the predators, parasites, and pathogens that controlled its population in the region where it evolved. In a short essay (100-150 words), explain how evolution by natural selection would influence the rate at which native predators, parasites, and pathogens attack an introduced species.

One factor favoring rapid population growth by an introduced species is the absence of the predators, parasites, and pathogens that controlled its population in the region where it evolved. In a short essay (100-150 words), explain how evolution by natural selection would influence the rate at which native predators, parasites, and pathogens attack an introduced species.

Key Concepts

Evolution by Natural Selection

This concept refers to the process by which organisms with traits that are advantageous in a given environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, these beneficial traits become more common, leading to adaptations in populations. In the context of the question, natural selection explains how native predators, parasites, and pathogens may gradually evolve traits that improve their ability to detect, capture, or infect the introduced species.

Coevolutionary Dynamics

Coevolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution. As native enemies encounter the introduced species, they may experience selection pressures that favor adaptations for overcoming its defenses, while the introduced species may counteract with its own changes. This ongoing evolutionary ‘arms race’ influences how quickly native species adapt, thereby impacting the rate and effectiveness with which they can attack and potentially control the introduced population.

Enemy Release Hypothesis

This idea describes how species introduced into new environments may experience rapid population growth because they have left behind the natural regulatory factors—such as specific predators, parasites, and pathogens—that kept their numbers in check. It highlights the initial imbalance in biotic interactions, setting the stage for native enemies to eventually adapt through natural selection and coevolution, which can lead to increased predation or parasitism pressure over time.

Transcript

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