Speciation and Changing Environment

The current genetical theories regarding the effects of environmental changes in shaping new species are first reviewed briefly; Matthew's concept based upon paleontological and zoogeographic data is then compared and found in accord with the genetical set. This theory proposes that changing cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American zoologist 1970-02, Vol.10 (1), p.27-39
Main Author: Dillon, Lawrence S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Biological
Animals
Biological Evolution
Climate change
Climate models
Ecology and the Origin of Species
Environment
Evolution
Evolutionary genetics
Mammals
New species
Paleoclimatology
Selection, Genetic
Speciation
Temperate regions
Tropical climates
Tropical regions
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Summary:The current genetical theories regarding the effects of environmental changes in shaping new species are first reviewed briefly; Matthew's concept based upon paleontological and zoogeographic data is then compared and found in accord with the genetical set. This theory proposes that changing climates, whether of an annual or long-term nature, induce speciation. Accordingly the north temperate continental land-masses are viewed as the main arenas of vertebrate evolution, especially temperate Eurasia. A more recent concept from biogeographic sources, that of Darlington, proves discordant to all the foregoing but agrees more closely with observed facts of recent distribution and the geologic record. Its major premises are that speciation proceeds most rapidly under tropical conditions and in regions of vast extent; hence, the Old World tropics are pointed to as the principal theater of speciation. These two zoogeographic concepts are then harmonized by showing that, during the period in which most of the evolution of the vertebrate taxa occurred, the tropical belts were much more extensive than at present and included what are now north temperate regions. The genetic theories are shown to be especially valuable in elucidating the changes involved in the life cycle of a species rather than the effects of major climatic changes.
ISSN:1540-7063
0003-1569
1557-7023
DOI:10.1093/icb/10.1.27