A Case of Natural Selection

Writing Assignment II

A Case of Natural Selection: White-Stripped Clover

Arrie Nicole Travis

May 1, 2014

Part I – “I’m Looking Over…”

Exercise 1

The habitat in Minnesota has cold winters and warm summers. It has moderate rainfall (snow included) and there are not many herbivores.

The habitat in North Carolina has mild winters and hot summers. It has heavy rainfall and there are abundant of herbivores.

Part II – Unlucky Clover

Exercise 2

a. The two gene products are stored in different part of the cell because it takes more energy to combine these products to produce cyanide.

b. One way these products might come together to make active CN in nature is when an herbivore consumes the leaves. A second way to activate CN is in winter/spring when the plant freezes and thaws, the cell membrane burst and combines with the cytoplasm.

c. The clover may produce cyanide to discourage herbivores from consumption. A possible disadvantage of producing cyanide is that herbivores don’t eat as much and their seeds will not be transported to other areas for reproduction.

d. Stripped clovers produce cyanide and plain clovers do not. Stripped clovers may produce this strip as a warning. Herbivores may choose the plain to consume instead of the stripped.

e. Snails eat plain clovers only. Snails will stay away from striped because they are poisoned. Visual warning.

Exercise 3

Temperature is a major consideration that might affect the fitness. Warmer temperatures means increase of growth and reproduction which survival is increased. Rainfall allows for growth of a plant. Reproduction and transportation of gene offspring to other areas for growth. Herbivores consume clover, the less consumption means that the clover will live longer to produce gene offspring.

Part IV – Investigating Clover Distribution

Exercise 4

a. The higher frequency of plain clover in Minnesota is because there are not many herbivores. Not as much clover gets consumed...