Niche microdifferentiation

Niche Microdifferentiation is an example of how evolutionary variation in genes is maintained. It simply means that an advantage for one animal in one area is not an advantage for another animal in a different location. For example, a moth which is white and lives in an area where tree bark is stripped and tree color is white will more easily survive than a white moth in a different location where trees are moss-covered and green.

Examples of Niche Microdifferentiation

Humans

The Iberian Peninsula is populated by peoples of various ancestral background. By studying mitochondrial DNA, it was observed that the Basque regions were populated by a Homogenous "genetic microdifferentiation" whereas most other parts of the region have a more Heterogeneous genetic variation. This indicates that the Basque Country was isolated resulting in "limited gene-flow interchange" with the surrounding regions. The other regions were shown to have a large amount of genetic diversity. Although these populations shared similar ancestry, the Basques were glacially isolated during the end of last Ice Age. The two populations diverged as access to other genetic sources were made available. These examples of Microdifferentiaton and geographic isolation can be seen through the variations of genetic ancestry throughout the human race.

References

1. O Garcia, R Fregel, JM Larruga, V Alvarez, I Yurrebaso, VM Caberera, and AM Gonzalez(2011). "Using mitochondrial DNA to test the hypothesis of a European post-glacial human recolonization from the Franco-Cantabrian refuge". Heredity(2011) Volume 106 pg 37-45.