What environmental feature might exert pressure favoring the Yellow Bass's broken markings?

Answer

Silt-laden or tannic waters

The variation in stripe patterns across the *Morone* genus is interpreted as evidence of differential environmental selection acting on each lineage over time. The Yellow Bass, adapted to the conditions prevalent in large river systems like the Mississippi drainage, often inhabits waters that are characterized by high turbidity, meaning they can be silt-laden or tannic (stained by decaying vegetation). In such environments, the camouflage provided by stripes that are broken or appear as spots offers better concealment than the sharp, highly defined lines seen on relatives adapted to clearer lake habitats. This suggests that evolutionary pressure exerted by water clarity and sediment load directly shaped the pigment expression and visual appearance of the Yellow Bass.

What environmental feature might exert pressure favoring the Yellow Bass's broken markings?

Related Questions

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