Natural Selection in the Wild. (MPB-21), Volume 21 (Monographs in Population Biology)

Natural selection is an immense and important subject, yet there have been few attempts to summarize its effects on natural populations, and fewer still which discuss the problems of working with natural selection in the wild. These are the purposes of John Endler's book. In it, he discusses the methods and problems involved in the demonstration and measurement of natural selection, presents the critical evidence for its existence, and places it in an evolutionary perspective. Professor Endler finds that there are a remarkable number of direct demonstrations of selection in a wide variety of animals and plants. The distribution of observed magnitudes of selection in natural populations is surprisingly broad, and it overlaps extensively the range of values found in artificial selection. He argues that the common assumption that selection is usually weak in natural populations is no longer tenable, but that natural selection is only one component of the process of evolution; natural selection can explain the change of frequencies of variants, but not their origins. Cover Page Half-title Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Preface 1. Introduction 1.1. Definition of Natural Selection 1.2. Relationship to Genetic Drift and Evolution 1.3. Restricted Meanings of "Natural Selection" 1.4. Modes of Selection 1.5. Summary 2. Philosophical Comments 2.1. Natural Selection and Tautology 2.2. Force, Action, and Intensity 2.3. Fitness and Adaptation 2.4. Two More Useful Distinctions 2.5. Summary 3. Methods for the Detection of Natural Selection in the Wild 3.1. Method i: Correlation with Environmental Factors 3.2. Method II: Comparisons between Closely Related Sympatric Species 3.3. Method III: Comparisons between Unrelated Species Living in Similar Habitats 3.4. Method iv: Deviation from Formal Null Models 3.5. Method v: Long-Term Studies of Trait Frequency Distributions 3.6. Method vi: Perturbation of Natural Populations 3.7. Method vii: Genetic Demography or Cohort Analysis 3.8. Method viii: Comparisons among Age Classes or Life-History Stages 3.9. Methods ix and x: Predictions about Natural Selection 3.10. Method ix: Nonequilibrium Predictions of Changes in Trait Frequency Distributions 3.11. Method x: Equilibrium Predictions about Trait Frequency Distributions 3.12. How to Detect Natural Selection in the Wild 3.13. Summary 4. Problems in Detecting Natural Selection 4.1. Reasons for Lack of Detection of Natural Selection When It Exists 4.2. Reasons for Apparent Detection of Selection When It Is Nonexistent 4.3. Reasons for Misleading Detection of Selection 4.4. Summary 5. Direct Demonstrations of Natural Selection in the Wild 5.1. Characteristics of Demonstrative Studies 5.2. Observations on the Distribution of Kinds of Traits Selected 5.3. Observations on the Distribution of Modes of Selection 5.4. General Comments on Detecting Natural Selection 5.5. Summary 6. Estimating Selection Coefficients and Differentials 6.1. Introduction to the Methods 6.2. Direct Univariate Methods 6.3. Univariate Mean Fitness Methods 6.4. Multivariate Methods 6.5. The Use of Selection Coefficients and Differentials 6.6. Summary 7. Distribution of Selection Coefficients and Differentials in Natural Populations 7.1. Methods 7.2. Observed Distributions 7.3. A Comparison of Observed and Expected Distributions 7.4. Summary 8. The Importance of Natural Selection 8.1. Four Views 8.2. Origin and Replacement 8.3. Conclusion: Natural Selection and Evolution 8.4. Summary Appendix 1. Multiple Regression and the Estimation of Selection Differentials Appendix 2. Comparisons between Selection Differentials and Regression Coefficients Using Simulated Data of Selection with Known Properties References Species Index Subject Index Introduction. Definition Of Natural Selection ; Relationship To Genetic Drift And Evolution ; Restricted Meanings Of Natural Selection ; Modes Of Selection ; Summary -- Philosophical Comments. Natural Selection And Tautology ; Force, Action, And Intensity ; Fitness And Adaptation ; Two More Useful Distinctions ; Summary -- Methods For The Detection Of Natural Selection In The Wild. Method I: Correlation With Environmental Factors ; Method Ii: Comparisons Between Closely Related Sympatric Species ; Method Iii: Comparisons Between Unrelated Species Living In Similar Habitats ; Method Iv: Deviation From Formal Null Models ; Method V: Long-term Studies Of Trait Frequency Distributions ; Method Vi: Perturbation Of Natural Populations ; Method Vii: Genetic Demography Or Cohort Analysis ; Method Viii: Comparisons Among Age Classes Or Life-history Stages ; Methods Ix And X: Predictions About Natural Selection ; Method Ix: Nonequilibrium Predictions Of Changes In Trait Frequency Distributions ; Method X: Equilibrium Predictions About Trait Frequency Distributions ; How To Detect Natural Selection In The Wild ; Summary. Problems In Detecting Natural Selection. Reasons For Lack Of Detection Of Natural Selection When It Exists ; Reasons For Apparent Detection Of Selection When It Is Nonexistent ; Reasons For Mislcading Detection Of Selection ; Summary -- Direct Demonstrations Of Natural Selection In The Wild. Characteristics Of Demonstrative Studies ; Observations On The Distribution Of Kinds Of Traits Selected ; Observations On The Distribution Of Modes Of Selection ; Observations On The Distribution Of Modes Of Selection ; General Comments On Detecting Natural Selection ; Summary -- Estimating Selection Coefficients And Differentials. Introduction To The Methods ; Direct Univariate Methods ; Univariate Means Fitness Methods ; Multivariate Methods ; The Use Of Selection Coefficients And Differentials ; Summary -- Distribution Of Selection Coefficients And Differentials In Natural Populations. Methods ; Observed Distributions ; A Comparison Of Observed And Expected Distributions ; Summary -- The Importance Of Natural Selection. Four Views ; Origin And Replacement ; Conclusion: Natural Selection And Evolution ; Summary -- Appendix 1. Multiple Regression And The Estimation Of Selection Differentials -- Appendix 2. Comparisons Between Selection Differentials And Regression Coefficients Using Simulated Data Of Selection With Known Properties. John A. Endler. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. 273-324. Discusses the methods and problems involved in the demonstration and measurement of natural selection. This work presents the critical evidence for its existence, and places it in an evolutionary perspective. It argues that natural selection can explain the change of frequencies of variants, but not their origins.