Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary ThoughtBiological evolution is a fact—but the many conflicting theories of evolution remain controversial even today. When Adaptation and Natural Selection was first published in 1966, it struck a powerful blow against those who argued for the concept of group selection—the idea that evolution acts to select entire species rather than individuals. Williams’s famous work in favor of simple Darwinism over group selection has become a classic of science literature, valued for its thorough and convincing argument and its relevance to many fields outside of biology. Now with a new foreword by Richard Dawkins, Adaptation and Natural Selection is an essential text for understanding the nature of scientific debate. |
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION | 3 |
2 NATURAL SELECTION ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS ... | 20 |
3 NATURAL SELECTION ECOLOGY AND MORPHOGENESIS ... | 56 |
4 GROUP SELECTION | 92 |
5 ADAPTATIONS OF THE GENETIC SYSTEM | 125 |
6 REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR | 158 |
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Common terms and phrases
adap adjustments adult Allee alleles alternative alleles animals asexual assume behavior benefit biological biologists biota biotic adaptation birds bithorax breeding chapter complex cycle designed diploid discussed ecological environment effect eggs environmental evidence evolution evolutionary evolved example expected explained extinction factor facultative favorably selected fecundity female fishes fitness frequency function gametes gene substitution genetic assimilation genetic environment genic selection genotype goal group selection haploid imply important increase indicated individuals insects large numbers male mammals mean mechanisms meiosis ment morphogenesis morphogenetic mortality rates mutation rates natural selection nesting normal offspring optimum organic adaptation parents phenotype phylogenetic physiological plants population densities possible postulate precisely predator probably problem produce progress reason recognize repro reproductive effort result selection coefficients selection of alternative senescence sex ratio sexual reproduction social somatic species stability stage success tation territory tion tionary tive viviparity Wynne-Edwards young zygote