Does this mean that differences in genetic diversity levels will have predictable ecological consequences? The answer is no, because only one portion of genetic diversity is connected to ecological factors, . adaptation. Ecological adaptation is a significant factor for example, in range expansion of plant species. Plants with different genotypes conferring the highest levels of fitness are expected to survive and reproduce better, shifting the gene pool over time towards higher frequencies of the alleles making up the more successful genotypes (Ward et al., 2008). This can be seen through Fisher’s (1930) example: when increase in fitness is allowed, genetic diversity can increase the population growth rate,.
