The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation [Paperback]

Adaptive radiation is the evolution of diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. It can cause a single ancestral species to differentiate into an impressively vast array of species inhabiting a variety of environments. Much of life's diversity has arisen during adaptive radiations. Some of the most famous recent examples include the East African cichilid fishes, the Hawaiian silverswords, and Darwin's Galapagos finches. This book evaluates the causes of adaptive radiation. It focuses on the 'ecological' theory of adaptive radiation, a body of ideas that began with Darwin and were developed through the early part of the 20th century. This theory proposes that phenotypic divergence and speciation in adaptive radiation are caused ultimately by divergent natural selection arising from differences in environment and competition between species. The text re-evaluates the ecological theory, along with its most significant extensions and challenges, in the light of all the recent evidence. It is the first full exploration of the causes of adaptive radiation in decades.

1. The origins of ecological diversity
2. Detecting adaptive radiation
3. The progress of adaptive radiation
4. The ecological theory of adaptive radiation
5. Divergent natural selection between environments
6. Divergence and species interactions
7. Ecological opportunity
8. The ecological basis of speciation
9. Divergence along genetic lines of least resistance
10. The ecology of adaptive radiation
References
Index

Schluter succinctly and clearly details the progress that has been made toward a theory of adaptive radiation during the last five decades. He also offers readers an abundant supply of fresh concepts and methods that will facilitate further progress. [This] is an absolute 'must read' for all graduate students in the fields of ecology and evolution and for anyone interested in evolutionary diversity. It will become a classic. --Sciencels%