1. You are conducting an experiment to examine geneticvariation and local adaptation in populations of Cypripediummontanum (Mountain Lady’s Slipper, Orchidaceae), which occurat high elevation in open woods in the Northwest US and Canada. Youhave two sites: one is in Oregon near Three Sisters and the otheris in the North Cascades in Washington State.
- How might you determine the extent of gene flowbetween your populations across latitude and whether one populationhas been through a bottleneck? Explain youranswer.
- How might you determine whether local adaptationhas occurred, and what does this mean in terms of evolutionaryecology?
- If you found that local adaptation occurred,nutrient availability might influence plant fitness, potentiallycausing this local adaption. Explain what types of nutrientavailability are most likely to affect your plants and how youmight test for nutrient limitation.
