Some Individuals Exhibit Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity in Response to Competition

question 28

Essay

Some individuals exhibit adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to competition from members of their own species. Why would food availability probably be a more reliable cue than the number of conspecifics about the amount of competition for food?

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Definitions:

Causality

The relationship between cause and effect, where one event (the cause) is understood to directly result in the occurrence of another event (the effect).

Probability Level

The likelihood or chance that a particular event will occur, often measured by a numerical value ranging from 0 (impossibility) to 1 (certainty).

Size of the Effect

The magnitude of the difference or relationship between variables, often used to understand the practical significance of research findings.

Partial Correlation

A numerical index that reflects the relationship between two variables with the removal of the influence of a third variable (called a mediating or confounding variable).