Ecological Genetics - Ford, E. B.

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Résumé :
This book describes the experimental study of evolution and adaptation, carried out by means of combined field-work and laboratory genetics. That technique has been developed during the last forty years or so by my colleagues and myself, and by a small but increasing number of geneticists throughout the world. In discussing what has been achieved by these means many relevant pieces of work familiar to me have been omitted, while doubtless there are others that have escaped my attention. To those who have thus laboured without recognition here, I offer my apologies. Yet I would not include further examples were I writing again, and this for two reasons. First, my aim is not to produce a com? pendium in the German fashion, for I have endeavoured to develop principles with enough instances to illustrate them but no more. Secondly, this book is in danger of becoming too long as it is: one which is in general consulted only in libraries, not read familiarly by students.

Sommaire:
1 Ecological Genetics.- 2 Numerical Changes in Animal Populations.- Numerical fluctuations in a colony of Melitaea aurinia.- Numerical fluctuations in Panaxia dominula.- Numerical fluctuations in a Maniola jurtina population.- Some effects of climate and food on animal numbers.- The spread of species in new territories.- 3 Genetic Drift and the Founder Principle.- Random genetic drift.- The founder principle.- 4 Polygenic Characters Evolving in Isolation.- Selection for a balanced gene-complex in Panaxia dominula.- Selection for spotting in Maniola jurtina.- Maniola jurtina in the Isles of Scilly.- 5 Sympatric Evolution.- The transition between different stabilizations of Maniola jurtina.- 6 The Theory of Genetic Polymorphism.- Balanced polymorphism.- The evolution of polymorphism.- The formation of super-genes.- Human polymorphism.- Criticisms of the polymorphism concept.- 7 Balanced Polymorphism in Panaxia dominula.- Estimates of larval populations.- Estimates and analysis of imaginal populations.- Experimental populations.- 8 Polymorphism and the Effects of the Switch-gene.- Selection for the effects of the switch-gene.- Heterozygous advantage and multiple-phase polymorphism.- Sex-controlled polymorphism.- Polymorphism in hydrogen cyanide production.- The super-gene.- Protein variation and 'neutral' mutants.- 9 Polymorphism and the Super-gene in Snails.- The genetics of Cepaea nemoralis.- Natural selection in populations of C. nemoralis.- Selection and genetic drift in C. nemoralis and C. hortensis in England and France.- Partula and Achatinella on Pacific islands.- 10 The Heterostyle-Homostyle System.- The homostyle primrose in England.- Primrose pollination.- Tristylic and 'concealed' heterostyled conditions.- 11 Chromosome Polymorphism.- Drosophila.- Chromosome polymorphism and selection in Drosophila.- Heterozygous advantage in chromosome polymorphism.- Other organisms, and conclusion.- 12 Mimicry.- General survey.- Experimental proofs of mimicry.- Mimetic polymorphism in the Lepidoptera.- Mimicry in brood parasites.- Aggressive mimicry.- Sound and scent mimicry.- 13 Papilio dardanus and the Evolution of Mimicry.- The races of Papilio dardanus.- The genetics of Papilio dardanus.- The evolution of mimicry.- Monomorphic Batesian mimicry.- 14 Transient Polymorphism and Melanism.- Transient polymorphism.- The spread of melanic forms.- Explanations of industrial melanism.- Selective elimination by birds.- The insularia forms.- The evolution of melanic forms.- Melanism in Phigalia pedaria.- Melanism in the beetle Adalia bipunctata.- A comparison of melanism in three species.- Recessive melanism.- Melanism in Amathes glareosa.- 15 Isolation and Adaptation.- Mortality in small localities.- The evolution of local races and species.- Ecological genetics and adaptation.- Conclusion.- Plates.- References.