Final answer:
Killifish allele frequency changes along the Atlantic coast represent enzyme changes over a microevolutionary time frame, indicating evolution within a population due to mechanisms like natural selection and genetic drift.
Step-by-step explanation:
The example of killifish allele frequency distribution along the Atlantic coast describes enzyme changes over a microevolutionary time frame. Microevolution occurs within a relatively short period of time within a population or species, involving changes in allele frequencies due to mechanisms like natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow. Observing the changing frequencies of alleles helps to determine if a gene pool is undergoing evolution, as changes in allele frequencies away from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium indicate that evolutionary processes are affecting the population.
The illustration of killifish allele frequency distribution along the Atlantic coast serves as a tangible example of microevolution, capturing changes in enzyme patterns over a relatively short timeframe within the population. Microevolution encompasses shifts in allele frequencies, driven by mechanisms like natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow. Monitoring these allelic changes is pivotal for discerning ongoing evolution, with deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium indicating evolutionary processes at play. This dynamic approach enables the examination of how external factors influence genetic diversity and adaptation, providing valuable insights into the intricate interplay between environmental pressures and genetic responses within populations over shorter evolutionary timescales.