Download PDF Introduction to Population Biology by Dick Neal

Download PDF Introduction to Population Biology by Dick Neal

Sinopsis

Population biology has its roots in many different areas: in taxonomy, in studies of the geographical distribution of organisms, in natural history studies of the habits and interactions between organisms and their environment, in studies of how the characteristics of organisms are inherited from one generation to the next, and in theories which consider how different types of organisms are related by descent. Charles Darwin made a synthesis of these areas in his 1859 book, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, and this provides us with a convenient starting-point for our introduction to population biology.

The theory of evolution by means of natural selection is the most important theory in biology, but with some notable exceptions one would not realize this after reading many of texts in the area of population biology. Thus, it is no accident that we begin this book with an evolutionary bias.

The purpose of the following three chapters is to provide a historical perspective, and also an understanding of the philosophical content, of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution through the process of natural selection. It is important to understand this Darwinian perspective of biology, because it provides a loose framework for the remainder of this book. In the first chapter we will examine some of the early experiences of Darwin, which may have led him to conclude that organisms evolve and are related by descent. In the second chapter we examine his book The Origin of Species in more detail to see how he structured his argument for his two theories of evolution: that all organisms are related by descent, and that the main mechanism for this evolutionary change is the process of natural selection. In the third chapter we will examine the theory of natural selection in more detail in an attempt to explain why so many people have had difficulty with the theory since it was first proposed by Darwin more than a century ago.

Content

1. Evolution by natural selection
2. Darwin concludes that organisms evolve
3. Charles Darwin: some important early influences (1809--31)
4. The earth’s crust: uniformitarian and catastrophist theories
5. The voyage of the Beagle
6. Island biogeography provides the key
7. Darwin’s theories of evolution
8. Darwin’s evolutionary theories: The Origin of Species (1859)
9. Darwin’s hesitation to publish, and the reaction to his theories
10. Understanding natural selection
11. Some philosophical considerations
12. Is natural selection a valid scientific theory?
13. The argument from design
14. Explaining the seemingly impossible
15. Simple population growth models and their simulation
16. Density-independent growth and overproduction
17. Introducing density-independent growth
18. Growth at discrete time intervals: geometric growth
19. Simulating geometric growth
20. Continuous growth through time: exponential growth
21. Simulating exponential growth
22. The population bomb
23. Examples of exponential growth
24. Simulation of geometric growth
25. Simulation of exponential growth
26. Density-dependent growth, and the logistic growth model
27. Logistic growth model
28. Simulating logistic growth
29. Time lags
30. Varying the carrying capacity
31. Analysing population growth
32. Summary and conclusions
33. Simulating logistic growth
34. Simulating a discrete form of the logistic growth model
35. Fitting logistic growth curves to data
36. Population genetics and evolution
37. Gene frequencies and the Hardy–Weinberg principle
38. Terminology
39. Frequencies of alleles, genotypes and phenotypes
40. The Hardy--Weinberg principle
41. Applying the Hardy--Weinberg principle to autosomal genes with two alleles
42. Complications
43. Mutation and the genetic variation of populations
44. Gene mutations
45. The randomness of mutations
46. Mutation rates and evolution
47. Genetic variation of populations
48. Mutations and variability
49. Small populations, genetic drift and inbreeding
50. Genetic drift in idealized populations
51. Effective population size
52. Empirical examples of genetic drift
53. Genetic drift in relation to mutation, migration and selection
54. Inbreeding
55. Migration, gene flow and the differentiation of populations
56. Island models
57. Simulation of island model and general conclusions
58. Stepping-stone model
59. Simulating the island model
60. Simulating the stepping-stone model
61. Quantifying natural selection: haploid and zygotic selection models
62. Defining fitness and selection
63. Selection in action
64. Modelling haploid selection
65. Zygotic selection models
66. Using selection models
67. Derivation of haploid selection equations
68. Simulating haploid selection
69. Simulating zygotic selection
70. Applying zygotic selection models to natural systems
71. Estimating fitness and selection
72. The application of zygotic selection models to natural selection
73. Polygenic inheritance, quantitative genetics and heritability
74. Polygenic inheritance
75. Partitioning phenotypic variation into different components
76. Heritability
77. Response to selection
78. Empirical examples of selection of quantitative characters
79. Intelligence, race and societal class
80. Population genetics: summary and synthesis
81. Mutations
82. Genetic recombination
83. Chance effects: genetic drift and inbreeding
84. Migration: gene flow
85. Natural selection
86. Demography
87. Life tables and age-specific death rates
88. Age-specific death rates
89. Constructing life tables
90. Comparison of life tables
91. Constructing life tables using a spreadsheet
92. Constructing life tables using a spreadsheet
93. Age-specific reproduction and population growth rates
94. Calculating population growth rates from age-specific birth and death rates
95. Calculating age-structured population growth rates using spreadsheets
96. Matrix models
97. Calculating growth rates for age-structured populations
98. Simulation of the matrix model
99. Evolution of life histories
100. Evolution of age-specific death rates
101. Evolution of age-specific fertility
102. Life-history strategies: r- and K-selection
103. Interactions between species, and the behaviour of individuals
104. Interspecific competition and amensalism
105. Defining competition
106. Types of competition
107. The Lotka--Volterra model of interspecific competition
108. Simulating competition between two species
109. The utility of the Lotka--Volterra competition model
110. Interspecific competition and community structure
111. Predation
112. The Lotka--Volterra model of predation
113. Simulating the Lotka--Volterra predation model
114. Laboratory experiments
115. The Rosenzweig and MacArthur graphical model of predation
116. The functional response of predators
117. Predation and evolution: prey characteristics that reduce the risk of predation
118. Simulating the Lotka--Volterra predation model
119. Animal behaviour, natural selection and altruistic traits
120. The genetic basis of behaviour
121. Behaviours that appear contrary to the theory of natural selection
122. Sexual selection and mating systems
123. Sexual conflict and competition
124. Sexual dimorphism and sexual selection
125. Animal mating systems

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