Extreme Environmental Change and Evolution

ISBN-13: 9780521446594 / Angielski / Miękka / 1997 / 272 str.

Ary A. Hoffmann; Peter A. Parsons;Hoffmann

Opis

Most natural populations experience extremely stressful conditions. This book discusses how such conditions can cause periods of intense selection that increase both phenotypic and genetic variation, and allow organisms with novel characteristics to be first generated and then established in the population. Using evidence from the fossil record, the authors argue that stressful conditions can have a major impact on the environments. They also suggest that as a consequence, periods of stress must be taken into consideration when long term conservation strategies are planned, particularly as stressful conditions emerge as a result of human activities. This broad overview will be of great interest to students and researchers in the field of evolutionary biology, genetics, ecology, paleontology and conservation biology.

Recenzje

'… useful as a source of examples of instances where the environment had an effect on the distribution and evolution of a species.' Jacob C. Koella, Trends in Ecology and Evolution

Spis treści

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Variation under extreme environments; 3. Natural selection in extreme environments; 4. Limits to adaptation; 5. Evolutionary outcomes: comparative and optimality approaches; 6. Extinction, diversification and evolutionary rates; 7. Conservation and future environmental change; References; Index.