topographic map

A fitness landscape is like a topographic map that visualizes the evolution of an organism: every species wanders through its fitness landscape by testing whether or not random mutations in its genes increase its growth rate, or fitness.

You can clearly see these on a topographic map as circles or ovals that have small lines pointing to the center of the circle or oval.

Had they studied a topographic map before buying this home, they could have seen from the contour lines how much land above them collected water, then funneled it to their lot.

In short, the traits of each species correspond to fitness peaks that can be likened to mountains on a topographic map separated from other mountains by valleys of lower fitness.

Mount St. Helens Topo Cup An eco-friendly collaboration between PNW staple Miir and Portland company Rustek, this camp cup has a wrap of real wood engraved with a topographic map of Mount St. Helens.