In Search of the Causes of Evolution: From Field Observations to Mechanisms

by Peter R. Grant, B. Rosemary Grant

Overview

Evolutionary biology has witnessed breathtaking advances in recent years. Some of its most exciting insights have come from the crossover of disciplines as varied as paleontology, molecular biology, ecology, and genetics. This book brings together many of today's pioneers in evolutionary biology to describe the latest advances and explain why a cross-disciplinary and integrated approach to research questions is so essential.

Contributors discuss the origins of biological diversity, mechanisms of evolutionary change at the molecular and developmental levels, morphology and behavior, and the ecology of adaptive radiations and speciation. They highlight the mutual dependence of organisms and their environments, and reveal the different strategies today's researchers are using in the field and laboratory to explore this interdependence. Peter and Rosemary Grant—renowned for their influential work on Darwin's finches in the Galápagos—provide concise introductions to each section and identify the key questions future research needs to address.

In addition to the editors, the contributors are Myra Awodey, Christopher N. Balakrishnan, Rowan D. H. Barrett, May R. Berenbaum, Paul M. Brakefield, Philip J. Currie, Scott V. Edwards, Douglas J. Emlen, Joshua B. Gross, Hopi E. Hoekstra, Richard Hudson, David Jablonski, David T. Johnston, Mathieu Joron, David Kingsley, Andrew H. Knoll, Mimi A. R. Koehl, June Y. Lee, Jonathan B. Losos, Isabel Santos Magalhaes, Albert B. Phillimore, Trevor Price, Dolph Schluter, Ole Seehausen, Clifford J. Tabin, John N. Thompson, and David B. Wake.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691146959
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	11/21/2010
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Peter R. Grant is the Class of 1877 Professor of Zoology (emeritus) at Princeton University. B. Rosemary Grant is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors ix

Preface xi

Introduction to Section I The Origins of Biological Diversity 1

Chapter 1 The Big Picture: A Tripartite View of Life and Environments through Time Andrew H. Knoll David T. Johnston 5

Chapter 2 Macroevolutionary Trends in Time and Space David Jablonski 25

Chapter 3 Dinosaurs Live! Philip J. Currie 44

Chapter 4 Phylogeography and Phylogenetics in the Nuclear Age Christopher N. Balakrishnan June Y. Lee Scott V. Edwards 65

Introduction to Section II Mechanisms, Molecules, and Evo-Devo 89

Chapter 5 The Flexibility of Butterfly Wing Color Patterns and Evolution in Morphospace Paul M. Brakefield Mathieu Joron 93

Chapter 6 Genetics, Geology, and Miracles David Kingsley 115

Chapter 7 Evolutionary Genetics of Pigmentation Loss in the Blind Mexican Cavefish Joshua B. Gross Clifford J. Tabin 131

Chapter 8 A Developmental View of Exaggerated Growth and Conditional Expression in the Weapons of Sexual Selection Douglas J. Emlen 149

Introduction to Section III Morphology and Behavior 173

Chapter 9 How Does Morphology Affect Performance in Variable Environments? Mimi A. R. Koehl 177

Chapter 10 In Search of the Elusive Behavior Gene Hopi E. Hoekstra 192

Chapter 11 There Must be Finches-Charles Darwin, Prickly Pears, and Pollination Biology May R. Berenbaum 211

Chapter 12 The Adaptive Radiation of Coevolving Prodoxid Moths and Their Host Plants: Greya Moths and Yucca Moths John N. Thompson 228

Introduction to Section IV Ecological Diversity 247

Chapter 13 Ecological and Geographical Influences on the Allopatric Phase of Island Speciation Trevor Price Albert B. Phillimore Myra Awodey Richard Hudson 251

Chapter 14 Geographical Mode and Evolutionary Mechanism of Ecological Speciation in Cichlid Fish Ole Seehausen Isabel Santos Magalhaes 282

Chapter 15 A Tale of Two Radiations: Similarities and Differences in the Evolutionary Diversification of Darwin's Finches and Greater Antillean Anolis Lizards Jonathan B. Losos 309

Chapter 16 Clarifying the Mechanisms of Evolution in Sticklebacks Using Field Studies of Natural Selection on Genes Rowan D. H. Barrett Dolph Schluter 332

Chapter 17 The Book and the Future: Perspective and Prospective Peter R. Grant B. Rosemary Grant 347

Chapter 18 A Festival for Rosemary and Peter Grant David B. Wake 360

Index 367

What People are Saying About This

Mary Jane West-Eberhard

Rosemary and Peter Grant have pursued a monumental search for the causes of evolution in the behavior, morphology, ecology, and genetics of Darwin's finches. Here they extend that search as editors of seventeen contributions, a set of major statements by leaders in the fields of biology touched by their own work. This is a connoisseurs' collection of selected readings in modern evolutionary biology, molded into a synthesis by the eloquent commentaries of the Grants themselves.
— Mary Jane West-Eberhard, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Ayala

In Search of the Causes of Evolution offers a bountiful sampler of what is going on in evolutionary research. Darwin's finches, which for three decades engaged Peter and Rosemary Grant's research, are there, and much, much more—all written by accomplished specialists. There is much to learn and much to enjoy in this wonderful, and at times riveting, book.
— Francisco J. Ayala, author of "Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion"

Ricklefs

These accessible and informative essays span the range of evolution, from its historical and environmental context to the nature of adaptation itself and the generation of biological diversity. Peter and Rosemary Grant have assembled a stellar cast of authors who, through their own work, pay tribute to the Grants' decades of research on Darwin's finches. Anyone wishing a thoroughly modern and readable account of evolution should start here.
— Robert E. Ricklefs, University of Missouri, St. Louis

David Reznick

The Grants' gift to evolutionary biology—the characterization of evolution in action in the Galápagos finches—was enough to define extraordinary careers. Here they extend their reach by depicting the study of evolution as a process of discovery that spans levels of organization ranging from individual genes to development, adaptation, speciation, and even the origin and deep history of life. The contributors span generations of investigators who are among our best and brightest.
— David Reznick, University of California, Riverside

From the Publisher

"In Search of the Causes of Evolution offers a bountiful sampler of what is going on in evolutionary research. Darwin's finches, which for three decades engaged Peter and Rosemary Grant's research, are there, and much, much more—all written by accomplished specialists. There is much to learn and much to enjoy in this wonderful, and at times riveting, book."—Francisco J. Ayala, author of Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion

"These accessible and informative essays span the range of evolution, from its historical and environmental context to the nature of adaptation itself and the generation of biological diversity. Peter and Rosemary Grant have assembled a stellar cast of authors who, through their own work, pay tribute to the Grants' decades of research on Darwin's finches. Anyone wishing a thoroughly modern and readable account of evolution should start here."—Robert E. Ricklefs, University of Missouri, St. Louis

"The Grants' gift to evolutionary biology—the characterization of evolution in action in the Galápagos finches—was enough to define extraordinary careers. Here they extend their reach by depicting the study of evolution as a process of discovery that spans levels of organization ranging from individual genes to development, adaptation, speciation, and even the origin and deep history of life. The contributors span generations of investigators who are among our best and brightest."—David Reznick, University of California, Riverside

"Rosemary and Peter Grant have pursued a monumental search for the causes of evolution in the behavior, morphology, ecology, and genetics of Darwin's finches. Here they extend that search as editors of seventeen contributions, a set of major statements by leaders in the fields of biology touched by their own work. This is a connoisseurs' collection of selected readings in modern evolutionary biology, molded into a synthesis by the eloquent commentaries of the Grants themselves."—Mary Jane West-Eberhard, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Editorial Reviews

"Just under 20 pages each, these chapters are accessible, up-to-date, and authoritative summaries of the current status of the search for mechanisms of evolution. Sixteen color plates provide a visual perspective on the topics covered, all of which deal with multicellular organisms, plants, and animals, although the universal tree of life is discussed in several chapters."

Choice

This is an important contributory book, which synthesizes the classical concepts of organic evolution with recent findings and developments in the field of Evolutionary Biology.

Bionotes - K. K. Verma

In Search of the Causes of Evolution will inspire biologists in the field, at the laboratory bench, and in the classroom. Many of the individual chapters are gems of evolutionary thought. High points include an exploration of classical ideas from novel perspectives, touching on the authors' work, but they often delve into the historical, the whimsical, or just thoughtful speculation.

BioScience - Ryan Calsbeek

This is an important contributory book, which synthesizes the classical concepts of organic evolution with recent findings and developments in the field of Evolutionary Biology.

Bionotes - K.K. Verma

This is an important contributory book, which synthesizes the classical concepts of organic evolution with recent findings and developments in the field of Evolutionary Biology.
— K. K. Verma

Bionotes

In Search of the Causes of Evolution will inspire biologists in the field, at the laboratory bench, and in the classroom. Many of the individual chapters are gems of evolutionary thought. High points include an exploration of classical ideas from novel perspectives, touching on the authors' work, but they often delve into the historical, the whimsical, or just thoughtful speculation.
— Ryan Calsbeek

BioScience

Peter and Rosemary Grant – Winners of the 2017 Royal Medal in Biology, The Royal Society

From the Publisher