How Female Mate Choice Can Impact Speciation in Cichlid Fish

What do you expect would occur if some females of this cichlid species began to prefer male cichlids with blue coloration?

a. The population of blue-colored fishes will increase.

Answer:

Speciation would occur if some females of this variety began to prefer male cichlids with blue coloration. The population of blue-colored fishes will increase.

The female mate choice plays a major role in speciation. They are crucial in the differentiation and speciation processes. When some females of a cichlid species start preferring males with blue coloration, it leads to a shift in the genetic composition of the population.

After several generations of mating with the blue-colored males, all the offspring will inherit the blue coloration genes. This change in the characteristics within the population can eventually lead to the formation of a new species of cichlid fish with blue coloration as a dominant trait.

Furthermore, the preference for blue-colored males can act as a barrier to gene flow with the red-colored fishes. This further promotes the divergence of the two groups, contributing to the process of speciation.

Additionally, with the increased selection pressure for blue coloration, the mutation rate in genes responsible for coloration may also increase over time. This can lead to further differentiation and eventual speciation within the cichlid population.