What can a high phenotype frequency indicate in a population?

A high phenotype frequency in a population typically indicates strong selective pressure for that trait. When a specific phenotype is prevalent, it suggests that individuals exhibiting this trait are benefitting from advantageous conditions that enhance their survival and reproductive success. This selective advantage may arise from various environmental factors, like predators, availability of resources, or mating preferences, which favor those with the high-frequency trait.

For example, if a particular coloration provides better camouflage in a specific environment, individuals with that coloration would have a higher chance of avoiding predation and, as a result, would reproduce more successfully, increasing the frequency of that phenotype in subsequent generations.

It's important to note that a high phenotype frequency does not directly imply a recent bottleneck event, which refers to a significant reduction in population size and genetic diversity. Similarly, while a high mutation rate might contribute to variation in phenotypes, it does not inherently lead to a high phenotype frequency. Lastly, a diverse gene pool is characterized by a wide range of genetic variation, which can lead to different phenotypes existing; thus, a high frequency of one phenotype might actually suggest less genetic diversity concerning that specific trait.