Imagine You Are an Evolutionary Biologist Studying Reproductive Trade-Offs in Populations

question 22

Essay

Imagine you are an evolutionary biologist studying reproductive trade-offs in populations of guppies that have been separated by the formation of barrier waterfalls. The upstream population faces lower predation than the downstream population, and the predators on the downstream side are larger and can eat any guppy offspring, no matter the size. Make a prediction about the reproductive strategies you might find and explain the trade-offs faced by the reproducing female guppies on each side of the barrier.

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Definitions:

Cushing's Syndrome

A condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, leading to symptoms like weight gain and high blood pressure.

Diabetes Mellitus

a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.

Protein Synthesis

The biological process in which cells build proteins based on the genetic instructions carried by mRNA; involves transcription and translation processes.

Cortisol

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, involved in the body's stress response, metabolism, and immune response.