Abstract
Genetic variation of a prey population can be affected by a range of variables, one of which is wild birds. Many species of prey population are polymorphic and wild birds hunt by sight which may means they select one morph of their prey over the other. The aim of this investigation is to use artificial prey to examine whether birds in an urban area, such as a garden of a residence, operate via selection pressures. 20 trials in total were performed. 10 trials with 45 yellow balls and 5 red balls were presented (ratio 9 yellow: 1 red) followed by 10 trials of 45 red balls and 5 yellow balls (ratio 9 red: 1 yellow). The bird population showed evidence of operating under significant frequency-dependant selection but not under significant frequency independent selection. The results show we can reject the null hypothesis that wild birds do not exhibit selection preferences due to the colour and frequency of the artificial prey, however, the null hypothesis can be accepted when in reference to frequency dependant selection. The birds showed no preference to which colour was rare, just that if that colour was the rare colour at the time, they select it over the common.
Highlights
Genetic variation of a prey population can be affected by a range of variables, one of which is wild birds
As the test statistic (U) is lower than the critical value for comparing βr common with βr rare, this shows that the null hypothesis can be rejected and that there is significant frequency-dependant selection present
The test statistic for βy rare with βr rare shows there is no significant frequency dependant selection due to it being higher than the critical value, null hypothesis can be accepted
Summary
Genetic variation of a prey population can be affected by a range of variables, one of which is wild birds. Many species of prey population are polymorphic and wild birds hunt by sight which may means they select one morph of their prey over the other, especially if one is of a more conspicuous morph [2]. Selection pressures, in this case frequencyindependent selection, may arise from wild birds hunting this way meaning that because the birds choose one morph over another, the morph which is chosen the least is the most likely stay fixed in a population. Dark morphs of B.betularia increased in frequency due to being better camouflaged from their prey. Once pollution levels decreased, dark morphs of B.betularia decreased in frequency. [6]
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