Michael L. Arnold
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199539581
- eISBN:
- 9780191716225
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199539581.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This book is an exploration of how the transfer of genes between divergent lineages — through a diverse array of mechanisms — has affected, and continues to affect, humans. In particular, it is a ...
More
This book is an exploration of how the transfer of genes between divergent lineages — through a diverse array of mechanisms — has affected, and continues to affect, humans. In particular, it is a journey into the data that support the hypothesis that Homo sapiens as well as those organisms upon which it depends for survival and battles against for existence are marked by mosaic genomes. This mosaicism reflects the rampant (as reflected by the proportion of organisms that illustrate this process) exchange of genetic material during evolutionary diversification. This is the underlying hypothesis for this book. The book follows in the various chapters that it also reflects the consistent observation made when the genomes of organisms are mined for genetic variation.Less
This book is an exploration of how the transfer of genes between divergent lineages — through a diverse array of mechanisms — has affected, and continues to affect, humans. In particular, it is a journey into the data that support the hypothesis that Homo sapiens as well as those organisms upon which it depends for survival and battles against for existence are marked by mosaic genomes. This mosaicism reflects the rampant (as reflected by the proportion of organisms that illustrate this process) exchange of genetic material during evolutionary diversification. This is the underlying hypothesis for this book. The book follows in the various chapters that it also reflects the consistent observation made when the genomes of organisms are mined for genetic variation.
Jonathan Losos
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520255913
- eISBN:
- 9780520943735
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520255913.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
Adaptive radiation—which results when a single ancestral species gives rise to many descendants, each adapted to a different part of the environment—is possibly the single most important source of ...
More
Adaptive radiation—which results when a single ancestral species gives rise to many descendants, each adapted to a different part of the environment—is possibly the single most important source of biological diversity in the living world. One of the best-studied examples involves Caribbean Anolis lizards. With about 400 species, Anolis has played an important role in the development of ecological theory and has become a model system exemplifying the integration of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral studies to understand evolutionary diversification. This major work, written by one of the best-known investigators of Anolis, reviews and synthesizes an immense literature. The author illustrates how different scientific approaches to the questions of adaptation and diversification can be integrated, and examines evolutionary and ecological questions of interest to a broad range of biologists.Less
Adaptive radiation—which results when a single ancestral species gives rise to many descendants, each adapted to a different part of the environment—is possibly the single most important source of biological diversity in the living world. One of the best-studied examples involves Caribbean Anolis lizards. With about 400 species, Anolis has played an important role in the development of ecological theory and has become a model system exemplifying the integration of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral studies to understand evolutionary diversification. This major work, written by one of the best-known investigators of Anolis, reviews and synthesizes an immense literature. The author illustrates how different scientific approaches to the questions of adaptation and diversification can be integrated, and examines evolutionary and ecological questions of interest to a broad range of biologists.
Jonathan B. Losos
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520255913
- eISBN:
- 9780520943735
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520255913.003.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter discusses the role of evolutionary biology as a historical science, and attempts to understand how and why evolutionary diversification has occurred. It is important to know what ...
More
This chapter discusses the role of evolutionary biology as a historical science, and attempts to understand how and why evolutionary diversification has occurred. It is important to know what processes occurred in the past and how these they shaped the diversity we see today. Depending on the quality of the historical record, we can infer, with a greater or lesser degree of confidence, what happened. Historical analysis (either examination of fossils or phylogenetic inference) can investigate the evolutionary history of a group, or whether evolutionary diversification has occurred.Less
This chapter discusses the role of evolutionary biology as a historical science, and attempts to understand how and why evolutionary diversification has occurred. It is important to know what processes occurred in the past and how these they shaped the diversity we see today. Depending on the quality of the historical record, we can infer, with a greater or lesser degree of confidence, what happened. Historical analysis (either examination of fossils or phylogenetic inference) can investigate the evolutionary history of a group, or whether evolutionary diversification has occurred.
Jonathan B. Losos
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520255913
- eISBN:
- 9780520943735
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520255913.003.0007
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter presents the phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary diversification within anole ecomorphs, addressing whether the phylogenetic relationships among the ecomorph classes are the same ...
More
This chapter presents the phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary diversification within anole ecomorphs, addressing whether the phylogenetic relationships among the ecomorph classes are the same across islands. It also draws conclusions from anole phylogeny about the age of the ecomorph phenomenon, and suggests that evolutionary and ecological processes have been at work in shaping size distributions. Two hypotheses for size evolution are described. One possibility is that the size differences evolved by character displacement, a phenomenon whereby when two similar species come into contact, they evolve in opposite directions to minimize resource overlap, thus permitting coexistence. The second possibility is the taxon cycle or taxon loop hypotheses. The idea of these hypotheses is that intermediate size is optimal, but that sympatry of large and small species is not produced by divergence in opposite directions, but by a large species invading an island occupied by an intermediate-sized species, which then evolves to smaller size.Less
This chapter presents the phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary diversification within anole ecomorphs, addressing whether the phylogenetic relationships among the ecomorph classes are the same across islands. It also draws conclusions from anole phylogeny about the age of the ecomorph phenomenon, and suggests that evolutionary and ecological processes have been at work in shaping size distributions. Two hypotheses for size evolution are described. One possibility is that the size differences evolved by character displacement, a phenomenon whereby when two similar species come into contact, they evolve in opposite directions to minimize resource overlap, thus permitting coexistence. The second possibility is the taxon cycle or taxon loop hypotheses. The idea of these hypotheses is that intermediate size is optimal, but that sympatry of large and small species is not produced by divergence in opposite directions, but by a large species invading an island occupied by an intermediate-sized species, which then evolves to smaller size.
Louise H. Emmons
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520222915
- eISBN:
- 9780520925045
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520222915.003.0012
- Subject:
- Biology, Animal Biology
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the treeshrews of Borneo. It explains that the small number of living tupaiid species and the fossil record suggests that the treeshrews' ...
More
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the treeshrews of Borneo. It explains that the small number of living tupaiid species and the fossil record suggests that the treeshrews' characteristics never provided much potential for evolutionary diversification, but that they can be considered an evolutionary success because they have been able to hold their own amid more populous orders. The chapter argues that the while the absentee maternal-nursing system works, it provides little flexibility in litter size or maternal behavior, and would not seem likely to offer much potential for evolving into other strategies needed for treeshrews to succeed in very cold climates or in places where survival of young was much lower.Less
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the treeshrews of Borneo. It explains that the small number of living tupaiid species and the fossil record suggests that the treeshrews' characteristics never provided much potential for evolutionary diversification, but that they can be considered an evolutionary success because they have been able to hold their own amid more populous orders. The chapter argues that the while the absentee maternal-nursing system works, it provides little flexibility in litter size or maternal behavior, and would not seem likely to offer much potential for evolving into other strategies needed for treeshrews to succeed in very cold climates or in places where survival of young was much lower.
