Fitness Landscapes and the Origin of Species

A systematic attempt to summarize and generalize what mathematical models tell us about the dynamics of speciation. Gavrilets uses a unified framework based on the notion of fitness landscapes introduced by Sewall Wright in 1932, generalizing this notion to explore the consequences of the huge dimensionality of fitness landscapes that correspond to biological systems. Gavrilets develops simple mathematical models that allow for analytical investigation and clear interpretation in biological terms.

This is a ... rich book, full of sober, well-considered insights, and there is a sense of real progress in understanding the variety of situations in which speciation can occur. Any investment in this book is well rewarded. -- Brett Calcott Austral Ecology