Evolutionary Biology: Volume 18

ISBN-13: 9781461569794 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 267 str.

Max Hecht

Opis

Evolutionary Biology, of which this is the eighteenth volume, con tinues to offer its readers a wide range of original articles, reviews, and commentaries on evolution, in the bro dest sense of that term. The topics of the reviews range from anthropology and behavior to molecular biology and systematics. In recent volumes, a broad spectrum of articles have appeared on such subjects as natural selection among replicating molecules in vitro, mate recognition and the reproductive behavior of Drosophila, molecular systematics ofCrocodilia, evolution of the monocotyledons, and the com munication network made possible among even distantly related genera of bacteria by plasmids and other transposable elements. Articles such as these, often too long for standard journals, are the stuff of Evolutionary Biology. The editors continue to solicit manuscripts on an international scale in an effort to see that everyone of the many facets of biological evolution is covered. Manuscripts should be sent to anyone of the following: Max K. Hecht, Department of Biology, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367; Bruce Wallace, Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacks burg, Virginia 24061; Ghillian T. Prance, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458."

Spis treści

1. Species Selection.- Evolutionary Trends.- Clade Composition.- Species as Units of Selection.- Search for Evidence.- Conclusions.- References.- 2. Homology of the Bird Wing Skeleton: Embryological versus Paleontological Evidence.- The Development of the Bird Carpus and Metacarpus and the Identification of the Wing Skeletal Elements.- Cell Death Removes Anterior Mesenchyme from the Wing Bud.- Discussion.- Phylogenetic Implication of the 2–3–4 Theory.- Conclusions.- References.- 3. Interspecific Hybridization in the Genus Drosophila.- Subgenus Drosophila.- The repleta Species Group.- The virilis Species Group.- The melanica Species Group.- The robusta Species Group.- The funebris Species Group.- The guarani Species Group.- The mesophragmatica Species Group.- The tripunctata Species Group.- The cardini Species Group.- The quinaria Species Group.- The immigrans Species Group.- The Hawaiian Fauna.- Subgenus Sophophora.- The melanogaster Species Group.- The obscura Species Group.- The willistoni Species Group.- The saltans Species Group.- Subgenus Scaptodrosophila.- Summary of Results.- Discussion.- Summary Statement.- References.- 4. A Demographic Theory on the Evolution of Mating Systems As Exemplified by Birds.- Definitions of Mating Systems.- The Sex Ratio.- Natural Selection and Population Parameters.- Natural Selection and Life History Parameters.- Relationship between Survivorship, Age of First Reproduction, and Annual Fecundity.- Relationship between Male and Female Reproduction.- Relationship between Survivorship, Age of First Reproduction, and Mating System.- Relationship between Annual Fecundity, Age of First Reproduction, and Mating System.- Sexual Differences in Survivorship and Age of First Reproduction.- A General Theory.- The Evolution of Polygyny.- Experimentally Induced Polygyny.- The Evolution of Polyandry.- The Evolution of Monogamy.- The Evolution of Polygyny-Polyandry.- Discussion.- Sexual Size Dimorphism.- Territory Size.- Clutch or Litter Size.- Future Research.- Summary.- Symbols.- References.- 5. Is There Ecomorphological Convergence among Mediterranean Bird Communities of Chile, California, and France?.- Research Goals.- Materials and Methods.- Localities and Description of the Three Mediterranean Regions and the Extra-Mediterranean One.- Preparation of Species Lists for Each Gradient.- Allocation of Bird Species to Food Categories.- Allocation of Bird Species to Foraging Substrates.- Morphometric Data.- Statistical Data Processing.- Results.- Variation in Species Numbers within and between Gradients.- Foraging.- Analysis of Leg-Toe Relationships.- Analysis of Bill Dimensions by Triangular Coordinates.- Principal Component Analysis.- Discriminant Analysis.- Discussion.- Methodology.- Is There Community-Wide Convergence?.- The Role of Historical Factors.- Conclusions.- Summary.- References.- 6. Arboreality: Is it Homologous in Metatherian and Eutherian Mammals?.- History of the Problem.- Methods.- Tarsal Transformation Sequences in the Mammalia.- Stage I. Pre- and Protomammalian Stage of Tarsus.- Stage II. Therian Morphotype Tarsus.- Stage III. Metatherian Morphotype Tarsus.- Stage IV. Didelphid Morphotype Tarsus.- Stage V. Australidelphian Morphotype Tarsus.- Stage VI. Eutherian Morphotype Tarsus.- Stage VII. Eutherian Arborealist Tarsus.- Discussion.- Summary and Conclusions.- References.