annidation en · NOUN
Etymology
From Latin ad (“to”) and nidus (“nest”). Coined by German biologist and university teacher Wilhelm Ludwig in 1950 as "a fifth evolutionary factor".
Meanings
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The adaptation of the various genotypes to different ecological niches, such as where a mutant form of a species is maintained in a population because it can flourish in a way that the parent organisms cannot.
Flax grew more rapidly and matured earlier than linseed and this difference in timing of growth led to annidation.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| annidations | Number=Plur | lexicographic |