Open AccessCompetition between clones: An experimental study in a natural population of Daphnia magna
Author(s) -
KORPELAINEN HELENA
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1986.tb00637.x
Subject(s) - biology , daphnia magna , population , competition (biology) , daphnia , genetic divergence , gene flow , ecology , natural population growth , clone (java method) , habitat , natural selection , zoology , genetic variation , genetic diversity , genetics , gene , crustacean , chemistry , demography , organic chemistry , toxicity , sociology
A competition experiment was carried out in a natural population of Daphnia magna by introducing individuals from a laboratory grown clone into the population. This experiment tested the hypothesis that the high degree of genetic divergence observed in Daphnia populations would at least partly be maintained by competitive interactions which prevent a new clone from becoming an established member of the population. The introduced clone proved to be inferior in the competition, and in only a few weeks the original clones outcompeted the new clone to a low frequency. Accordingly, the genetic composition of the population recovered from the artifical disturbance. D. magna populations seem to inhabit contrasting habitats with unique selection pressures, which leads to population differentiation. In general, habitat discontinuity and restricted gene flow together with interference competition among conspecific genotypes confer an excellent opportunity for genetic divergence among populations.