Melanism: Evolution in Action

ISBN-13: 9780198549826 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 364 str.

Michael Majerus; M. E. N. Majerus

Opis

Melanism: Evolution in Action describes a ubiquitous biological phenomenon, the existence of dark forms of many species of mammals, insects, and some plants. Melanism is a particularly important phenomenon for understanding evolution. Unlike many polymorphisms, the rise of a melanic population within a species can be identified easily and often occurs quickly. Examples of melanism include one of the most famous illustrations of natural selection, the peppered moth. This beautifully illustrated book, the first on melanism since 1973, gives a lucid and up-to-date appraisal of the subject. The first four chapters place melanism in historical and scientific context, giving numerous examples and an overview of physical and genetic properties. The next five chapters focus on melanism in moths and ladybugs; they examine the diverse evolutionary reasons for melanism and uncover some of the complexities behind this apparently simple phenomenon. The final chapter looks at the important role melanism plays in evolutionary biology. Written in an engaging and readable style, this book will have broad appeal to students and researchers in evolution, ecology, entomology, and genetics.

Recenzje

'...This work will be of considerable interest not only to geneticists and evolutionary biologists, but also to entomologists, ecologists and natural historians who wish to extend their understanding of Darwin's evolutionary theory, more particularly of natural selection.' MRDS, 1999

O autorze

Michael Majerus began collecting butterflies and moths when he was four. His fascination with this group, and in particular their value in studying evolution, has spanned almost forty years, and dominated his professional career. He has written over 100 scientific papers and three books on these subjects, and regularly appears on television and radio. A fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, he currently works as a lecturer in the Department of Genetics at the University of Cambridge, where he is researching melanic polymorphism in moths and ladybirds. Michael Majerus, Department of Genetics, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EH. Tel. 01223-333983; Fax. 01223-333992; email: menm@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk.