Date
Published:
November 20, 2014
Source:
Evolution: International Journal of Evolution
Summary:
The purpose of the study is to see if organisms are more fit in their native environments due to local adaptations, or similar but foreign environments with slight changes in the biotic and abiotic factors. This is interesting because one would expect this to be true since natural selection causes populations of organisms to be specifically adapted to their environment.
The purpose of the study is to see if organisms are more fit in their native environments due to local adaptations, or similar but foreign environments with slight changes in the biotic and abiotic factors. This is interesting because one would expect this to be true since natural selection causes populations of organisms to be specifically adapted to their environment.
In this study, water from 6 different
lakes and ponds in Canada was collected.
The aquatic microbes present in the water were isolated, cultured, and frozen. The chemical balance in each of the water samples (including several elements such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) collected was recorded and the water was filtered and frozen as well. Since the microbes and water chemistry was preserved at the time, the thawing of them later on is like having them travel forward in time.
After, the bacteria that had been isolated was put in each of the different water samples from the different lakes.
The results showed that bacteria grew more slowly in their native water than in foreign water. Also, results showed that older samples of bacteria grew slower than newer samples. The water chemistry also did not affect the pattern of growth of the bacteria.
These results are quite surprising since they are almost opposite of the expected results (it was expected that bacteria would grow faster in their native environments due to local adaptations). However, the bacteria were still adapted better to some of the of the 6 environments relative to the others probably due to ideal chemical conditions, although results were inconsistent.
After, the bacteria that had been isolated was put in each of the different water samples from the different lakes.
The results showed that bacteria grew more slowly in their native water than in foreign water. Also, results showed that older samples of bacteria grew slower than newer samples. The water chemistry also did not affect the pattern of growth of the bacteria.
These results are quite surprising since they are almost opposite of the expected results (it was expected that bacteria would grow faster in their native environments due to local adaptations). However, the bacteria were still adapted better to some of the of the 6 environments relative to the others probably due to ideal chemical conditions, although results were inconsistent.
Citation:
Fox, J. W. and Harder, L. D. (2015), Using a
“time machine” to test for local adaptation of aquatic microbes to temporal and
spatial environmental variation. Evolution, 69: 136–145. doi:10.1111/evo.12543
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