Local Adaptation

What is Local Adaptation?

Local adaptation as differentially adapted

subpopulation of a single species (with
existing gene flow between subpopulations
especially for sexually reproducing species).
Examples of Locally Adaptation of
Animals:
Galapagos Tortoises

There are two general shapes to the shell of

tortoises on the Galapagos Islands. On islands with
little low-lying vegetation the tortoises seem to
have evolved long necks & limbs and different
shell shapes which allow them to reach up more
easily.
Galapagos Tortoises
Examples of Locally Adaptation of
Animals:
Silent Crickets

Marlene Zuk has some very famous work on

crickets that evolved to be silent on a Hawaiian
island where parasitic flies were using the call as a
targeting method. It's a great example of rapid
adaptation occurring under observation in the
wild.
Examples of Locally Adaptation of
Animals:
Silent Crickets

During the 1990's the population of crickets was in

decline as a result of parasitism. At some point a
mutation arose where the crickets no longer
produced song, and this allele spread rapidly and
cricket numbers bounced back strongly.
Silent Crickets
 Darwin’s Finches

a group of Galapagos Island finches, observed

by Charles Darwin, that provide striking
evidence of speciation.
What is niches

Is used to define an
organism's role in
an ecosystem.