The Evolutionary Biology of Species

The Evolutionary Biology of Species

 
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Date of Publication:
 
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Product details:

ISBN13:9780198749752
ISBN10:0198749759
Binding:Paperback
No. of pages:284 pages
Size:233x155x14 mm
Weight:498 g
Language:English
136
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Short description:

Presents a synthetic overview of the evolutionary biology of species, incorporating their nature, origins, proliferation, and consequences.

Long description:
'Species' are central to understanding the origin and dynamics of biological diversity; explaining why lineages split into multiple distinct species is one of the main goals of evolutionary biology. However the existence of species is often taken for granted, and precisely what is meant by species and whether they really exist as a pattern of nature has rarely been modelled or critically tested. This novel book presents a synthetic overview of the evolutionary biology of species, describing what species are, how they form, the consequences of species boundaries and diversity for evolution, and patterns of species accumulation over time. The central thesis is that species represent more than just a unit of taxonomy; they are a model of how diversity is structured as well as how groups of related organisms evolve. The author adopts an intentionally broad approach, stepping back from the details to consider what species constitute, both theoretically and empirically, and how we detect them, drawing on a wealth of examples from microbes to multicellular organisms.

In this volume, the author defends the view that species form a real unit in rerum natura, serving as a unit central to understanding the origin and dynamics of biological diversity. Barraclough argues that individuals within the same species interact and evolve interdependently, while individuals belonging to distinct species evolve independently. And he maintains that we observe this phenomenon in the discrete clustering of genetic and phenotypic variation . . . The Evolutionary Biology of Species is aimed at graduate-level students and researchers. The work is, however, clearly written, and the author provides a glossary of important nomenclature. More generally, individuals with an interest in systematics will find much in Barraclough's work, worthy of interest and critical thought.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
What are species?
The evidence for species - phenotypic and genetic clustering
Why are there species? - arenas of recombination and selection
What causes speciation?
Species and speciation without sex
Species boundaries and contemporary evolution
Species interactions and contemporary evolution
Predicting evolution in diverse communities
How does species richness accumulate over time?
Conclusions