Frogs, Flies, and Dandelions The Making of Species

About this book

How does one species split into another? How long does it take for a new species to be born? And what is a species anyway? Such is the importance of the problem that Charles Darwin himself dubbed it `The Mystery of Mysteries'. These questions, the focus of intense debate in biology and critical for any assessment of biodiversity, are tackled here.
`An engaging and informative introduction to the science of speciation....not only surprisingly fun to read but sufficiently provocative to get me thinking hard.' Nature, June 2001
'...an excellent read for biologists without a strong background in genetics.' Biologist

Contents

Introduction The making of species; 1. Sorting out life (what are species anyway?); 2. An isolated case? (Geographic specification); 3. Tight spots (The magic of small populations); 4. Seductive theories (the power of sex); 5. Wham, bam, brand new species (on the instant origin of species); 6. A chronic case of Rhagoletis (the birth of an evolutionary heresy); 7. A freak show? Apple maggots are not alone); 8. Ecotone - Speciation prone? (kinks in the environment spawn species); 9. Victoria's blue genes (sex in sympatry); 10. Mystery? What mystery?; Coda Acknowledgements; Notes; Glossary; Bibliography; Index

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