The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation

Adaptive radiation, a process that has given rise to much of life's diversity, occurs when a single ancestral species diversifies into an impressive array of species exploiting a variety of environments. Darwin's finches, Hawaiian silverswords, and East African cichlids are celebrated examples. The Ecology of Adaptive Radiation is the first full exploration of the causes of this phenomenon in decades. Written by one of the world's leading evolutionary biologists, this book focuses on the 'ecological theory' of adaptive radiation, a body of ideas that began with Darwin and was developed through the first half of the 20th century. Here the author evaluates the theory and its most significant extensions and challenges in light of all recent evidence.