Mixed evidence for adaptation to environmental pollution.

ABSTRACT: Adaptation to pollution has been studied since the first observations of heavy metal tolerance in plants decades ago. To document micro-evolutionary responses to pollution, researchers have used phenotypic, molecular genetics, and demographic approaches. We reviewed 258 articles and evaluated the evidence for adaptive responses following exposure to a wide range of pollutants, across multiple taxonomic groups. We also conducted a meta-analysis to calculate the magnitude of phenotypic change in invertebrates in response to metal pollution. The majority of studies that reported differences in responses to pollution were focused on phenotypic responses at the individual level. Most of the studies that used demographic assays in their investigations found that negative effects induced by pollu

SUBMITTER: Loria A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6691217 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature