Question

Predict what would happen if, after 22 months, guppies from the transplanted population were returned to the source pool. Describe an experiment to test your prediction.

Short answer

The higher predation pressure will act on the bright-colored guppies; they will lose their instincts and evolve to blend with their original source population.

The occurrence of natural selection will cause more color and size changes in the descendants of guppies than their ancestors.

Step-by-step solution

Predation

The form of biological interactions among living organisms that helps control the population in which food is obtained when one species eats another is called predation.

The several advantages associated with predation are controlling the prey population and killing fewer fit species like old and sick species. Predation acts as a link in trophic levels for energy transfer.

The carnivorous interaction is considered a predation example.

Habitat

The field of ecology describes habitat as a natural environment where living organisms like plants and animals build their home so that they can live in their shelter to protect themselves from predators. Examples of habitats include forest, desert, grassland, and stream.

The various beneficial things provided by habitats to their residing species are water, reproduction space, food, light, and shelter.

Testing prediction in an experiment

After 15 generations or 22 months, when guppies return to their pool source, the bright-colored species will face a high predation rate due to the plenty of predators in that source.

When guppies are transferred to their source, they start developing their instincts to cope and survive in that environment with the selection pressure.

When the environment of guppies changes due to the adult guppies transplantation into another pool, the produced descendant of the transplanted species will be bright-colored guppies (guppies possess agene that is responsible for bright color).

The descendant guppies will bear different traits than their ancestor (drab-colored adult fish). After 15 generations, natural selection will occur, and this evolutionary process will result in color change and size increment in guppies.