Evolutionary Biology -

. .

Sommaire:
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.