What process replaces natural selection when fish are bred in controlled aquaculture systems?
Answer
Artificial selection.
When Yellow Tangs transition from their wild habitat to a controlled hatchery environment for captive breeding programs, the mechanism driving evolutionary change shifts dramatically. In the wild, selection pressures include predation risk, resource competition, and environmental variability. In contrast, captive breeding subjects the population to artificial selection, a process where human intervention dictates which traits are passed on. Breeders intentionally favor characteristics that maximize efficiency and survival within the hatchery setting, rather than traits optimizing survival on a complex, predator-filled reef.
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