WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM COMMUNITY GENETICS?

摘要: Throughout the 20th century, investigators argued that genetics should be incorporated into ecological explanations (Collins 1986). C. Adams (1915) suggested very early in century emerging concepts Mendelian could help ecologists to explain distribution of land snails genus Io. Genecology developed from 1920 1950, with research focused on intraspecific variation anticipated genetics, which 1950s and 1960s. Evolutionary ecology emerged 1960s, driven by empirical results three areas 1986): ecologically significant traits like competitive ability had a genetic basis; some kinds evolutionary change progressed within time required for many process reach completion; and, natural selection operated over spatial scales sufficiently small such microevolution partially explained abundance populations relatively short distances. By late were also becoming increasingly sensitive level analysis at was expected operate. Futuyma (1986:307) integrated these ideas defining as ‘‘the origin phenomena an explicit recognition distinction among, consequences of, various levels (gene, organism, kin group, population, or higher).’’ While sabbatical Duke University 1982, I discussed population Janis Antonovics worked study history integration theory leading emergence My efforts understand intellectual issues drove led question: To what extent is composition community function other species comprising community? (1992) outlined program began address this question. The papers Special Feature are most recent use ecology, but prompts certain optimism two reasons. First, Neuhauser et al. (2003) show, our model interactions improving. Advances computational