Figure 6 Mean (± SE) proportion of Spea multiplicata tadpoles from each of nine

Question

Figure 6  Mean (± SE) proportion of Spea multiplicata tadpoles from each of nine different ponds expressing the carnivore morphology (height of bar) when reared together in the same environment. Parents of tadpoles from high-elevation ponds were from sites where S. bombifrons is absent (“S. multiplicata only” ponds), whereas parents of tadpoles from low-elevation ponds were from sites where both Spea species co-occur.

Question:To determine if there was a genetic basis to the differences observed among ponds and thus to show character displacement rather than plasticity, Pfenning and Murphy performed a common garden experiment, rearing toads taken from high-elevation ponds (that contained only S. multiplicata) and low-elevation ponds (that contained both species) together in the same environment (Figure 6 above). Do the results support character displacement?

Explanation / Answer

Yes, It involved in the genetic differentiation  of differences observed and other factors unrelated to character displacement that led to rearing toads taken from high-elevation ponds (that contained only S. multiplicata) and low-elevation ponds (that contained both species) together in the same environment.  Yes, the results support character displacement because it appears likely to be involved and we observe differences in morph frequency found in several different ponds of both categories. As it is is shown in the graph that competition from S. bombifrons restricts growth of the carnivore morph of S. multiplicata, by which expression of the omnivore morph in ponds is increased by natural selection.

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