The evolution of new species (speciation) is a central theme in evolution. How and why does one species split into another? How long does it take for a new species to be born? And what is a species anyway? Such is the importance of the problem that Charles Darwin himself dubbed it "the mystery of mysteries". These questions, the focus of intense debate in biology and critical for any assessment of biodiversity, are all tackled in this work. The author uses academic debate to explore the meandering path of speciation research.m
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
halftones and line illustrations, notes, glossary, bibliography, index
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850393-4 (9780198503934)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Introduction: The making of species. 1: Sorting out life (what are species anyway?). 2: An isolated case? (Geographic speciation). 3: Tight spots (The magic of small populations). 4: Seductive theories (the power of sex). 5: Wham, bam, brand new species (on the instant origin of species). 6: A chronic case of Rhagoletis (the birth of an evolutionary heresy). 7: A freak show? (Apple maggots are not alone). 8: Ecotone - speciation prone? (kinks in the environment spawn species). 9: Victoria's blue genes (sex in sympatry). 10: Mystery? What mystery?. Coda; Acknowledgements; Notes; Glossary; Bibliography; Index
