Skip to main content

Fitness Variation in a Natural Population

  • Conference paper
Evolution of Insect Migration and Diapause

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

When Fisher (1958, but originally 1930) derived the fundamental theorem, he created an impressive but problematical view of natural selection. Some major conceptual difficulties intrinsic to the theorem were not noticed by Fisher and have gone largely unnoticed by subsequent students of evolution. The theorem is typically recited without comment or qualification (Feldman and Lewontin, 1975; Ayala, 1976). Empirical findings reviewed here strongly argue that these conceptual problems may be severe.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ayala, F.J.: Molecular Genetics and Evolution. In: Molecular Evolution. Ayala, F.J. (ed.). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, W.E., Lounibos, T.P.: Photoperiodic control of development in the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii. Can J. Zool. 50, 713–719 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crow, J.F., Kimura, M.: An Introduction to Population Genetics Theory. New York: Harper and Row 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, T.: Genetics of the Evolutionary Process: New York Columbia Univ. Press 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, K.W., Brust, R.A.: Induction and termination of diapause in Wyeomyia smithii (Diptera:Culicidae) and larval survival studies at subzero temperature. Can. Ent. 104, 1937–1950 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, D.A.: Quantitative Genetics. New York: Ronald Press 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, M.W., Lewontin, R.C.: The heritability hangup. Science 190, 1163–1168 (1975).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Felsenstein, J.: The theoretical population genetics of variable selection and migration. Ann. Rev. Genet. 10, 253–280 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R.A.: The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection. New York: Dover 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haidane, J.B.S., Jayakar, S.D.: Polymorphism due to selection of varying direction. J. Genet. 58, 237–242 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haidane, J.B.S.: Natural selection. In: Darwin’s Biological Work, Bell, P.R. (ed.). New York: John Wiley 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Istock, C.A., Wasserman, S.S., Zimmer, H.: Ecology and evolution of the pitcher-plant mosquito. 1. Population dynamics and laboratory responses to food and population density. Evolution 29, 296–312 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Istock, C.A., Zisfein, J., Vavra, K.J.: Ecology and evolution of the pitcher-plant mosquito. 2. The substructure of fitness. Evolution 30, 535–547 (1976a).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Istock, C.A., Vavra, K.J., Zimmer, H.: Ecology and evolution of the pitcher-plant mosquito. 3. Resource tracking in a natural population. Evolution 30, 548–557 (1976b).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M.: On the change of population fitness by natural selection. Heredity 12, 145–167 (1958).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, C.J.: Genetic and behavioral studies on fluctuating vole populations. Proc. Adv. Study, Inst. Dynamics Numbers Popul. pp. 243–256 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leon, J.A.: Life histories as adaptive strategies. J. Theor. Biol. 60, 301–335 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levins, R.: Evolution in Changing Environments. Princeton: Princeton University Press 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin, R.C.: Selection for colonizing ability. In: The Genetics of Colonizing Species. Baker, H. (ed.). New York: Academic Press 1965, pp. 77–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin, R.C.: The effect of genetic linkage on the mean fitness of a population. PNAS 68, 984–986 (1971).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin, R.C.: The Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change. New York: Columbia University Press 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mather, K., Jinks, J.J.: Biometrical Genetics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard Smith, J.: The theory of games and the evolution of animal conflicts. J. Theor. Biol. 47, 209–221 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E.: Animal Species and Evolution. Cambridge: Harvard University Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertz, D.B.: Life histories and ecological genetics. In: Readings in Ecology and Ecological Genetics. Connell, J.H., Mertz, D.B., Murdock, W.W. (eds.). New York: Harper and Row 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J.B.: Life history of Aedes smithii Coq. J. New York Ent. Soc. 10, 10–15 (1902).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S.M., Brust, R.A.: Photoperiodic control of the maintenance and termination of larval diapause in Wyeomyia smithii. Coq. (Diptera: Culicidae) with notes on oogenesis in the adult female. Can. J. Zool. 49, 1065–1073 (1971).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thoday J.M., Boam, T.B.: Effects of disruptive selection. II. Polymorphism and divergence without isolation. Heredity 13, 205–218 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, J.R.G.: Why does the genotype not congeal? Evolution 21, 645–656 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, S.: The roles of mutation, inbreeding, crossbreeding, and selection in evolution. Proc. VI Int’l Cong. Genetics J, 356–366 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1978 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Istock, C.A. (1978). Fitness Variation in a Natural Population. In: Dingle, H. (eds) Evolution of Insect Migration and Diapause. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6941-1_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6941-1_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-6943-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-6941-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics