Genetic and Environmental Factors Shape Rates of Plasticity: The Temporal Dynamics of Opsin Gene Expression in Aquatic Environments.

Summary: Animals can change their traits to survive in new environments, a neat trick called "plasticity." But how fast they change is just as important as how much they change. Scientists studied fish in Nicaragua to see how quickly their eyes adapted to different light colors in the water. They found that young fish change their vision faster than older ones. Also, fish from muddy lakes adapted to red light faster than fish from clear lakes. This shows that the speed of adapting is a trait that can evolve over time, helping animals survive in a constantly changing world.