Natural Selection: Requirements

No Requirements Met

O variation:
O diff. mort:
O heritability:

All Requirements Met

X variation:
X diff. mort:
X heritability:

No Heritability

X variation:
X diff. mort:
O heritability:

Observe the above for each of the graph types.

Natural Selection: Requirements

Three conditions must be met for selection to occur in a population:

1. Variation: Individuals in the population must differ with respect to the trait in question. Without this variation, all individuals will have the same trait value and cannot be distinguished with respect to that trait.

2. Heritability: The variation found in the population must (at least partially) be heritable, e.g. transmitted from parent to offspring. If the variation in the trait was due entirely to the environment, for example, changes in the parent population would not affect the characteristics of the offspring population.

3. Differential Mortality: Finally, individuals must have a probability of survival that is a function of the value of the trait in question. If all individuals, regardless of there trait value, had an equal probability of survival and fecundity, no predictable change in the mean value of the population would occur.

Natural Selection: Requirements

Observe the effect of the presence and absence of these conditions to the right:

The trait in question here is the color of the individual. In this case selection acts against purple individuals and for green individuals.