You Are Studying 20 Lake Populations of the Three-Spined Stickleback

question 26

Essay

You are studying 20 lake populations of the three-spined stickleback. In each lake, there are two distinct morphs that specialize on feeding in different areas of the lake. The benthic morph feeds around the shoreline, while the limnetic morph feeds in the open water. The environments and food sources in these environments are quite different. You hypothesize that these morphs are diverging into two different species in accordance with the ecological speciation model. Please describe an experiment that would allow you to test this hypothesis. Be sure to include what results would support and refute the ecological speciation hypothesis.

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Definitions:

Bilateral Lobotomy

A surgical procedure that involves severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe, historically used to treat mental illness with often debilitating results.

Time Outs

A disciplinary technique used to remove an individual from an environment for a period of time as a consequence for unacceptable behavior, with the goal of decreasing that behavior.

Behavior Modification

The use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to improve behavior, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli.

Culturally Sensitive Therapy

An approach to therapy in which knowledge of clients’ cultural backgrounds guides the choice of therapeutic interventions.