Final answer:
In the breeder's equation (R = h²S), S refers to the selection coefficient.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the breeder's equation (R = h²S), S refers to the selection coefficient.
The breeder's equation is used in evolutionary biology to understand how populations change over time due to natural selection. In this equation, R represents the response to selection, h represents the heritability of a trait, and S represents the selection coefficient. The selection coefficient is a measure of how much selection is acting on a particular trait. It can be thought of as the strength of selection, with higher values indicating stronger selection.
For example, let's say we have a population of birds, and we observe that individuals with longer beaks are more likely to survive and reproduce. In this case, the selection coefficient S would be positive because long beaks are being favored by natural selection.