Synopses & Reviews
This book brings together the results from one of the most significant long-term studies of birds in the late twentieth century, testing our understanding of evolution in natural populations. Combining genetics, behavior, ecology, and a landmark data set, it will be essential reading for everyone with an interest in evolutionary ecology. The Lesser Snow Goose is a migratory Arctic breeder which occurs in two genetically distinct forms. Most have white plumage, but some are dark, allowing rapid scoring and study of a highly visible heritable trait. Initial chapters describe the natural history, recent evolutionary history, and current patterns of gene flow in the species. A subsequent chapter presents a detailed demographic model integrating both fecundity and survival components of fitness, which is used as an analytical framework throughout later chapters. Two chapters detail the effects of annual and age-specific variation in fitness components. The authors then focus on the microevolutionary status of the population, using data gathered over 26 years on 40,000 individually marked adult geese, 45,000 nests, and 110,000 goslings at one colony in northern Manitoba. The heart of the book analyses the working of natural selection on plumage color, seasonal timing of breeding, clutch size, egg size, and body size, using the components of fitness approach to quantifying selection in stages throughout the animal life cycle. The results are an important advance in understanding the evolutionary process in vertebrates.
Review
"The results of 25 years of studying 40,000 individually marked adult Snow Geese, 45,000 nests, and 110,000 goslings at a colony in northern Manitoba are synthesized in this book. The study seeks to understand roles played by genetics, behavior, and ecology on a population of wild Snow Geese in terms of evolution of their natural populations. The workings of natural selection are thus determined on characters such as plumage color, time of breeding, clutch and egg sizes, fitness, and goose body size. This is a landmark work of primary interest to professional biologists and ornithologists. Highly recommended."--Wildlife Activist
"The wealth of data and ideas in the book will make it a valuable addition to the libraries of those with interests in either applied biology of wildlife or evolutionary biology." --Ecology
"Long-term studies on natural populations are essential for testing evolutionary theory in the field, particularly the theory of natural selection. At the same time, there are relatively few ongoing long-term studies, making this book both timely and useful to any student of natural selection." -- Choice
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [273]-289) and indexes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Lesser Snow Geese of La Perouse Bay
3. Population structure and gene flow
4. Fitness components model of Snow Goose life cycle
5. Pairing, mating, and parental care
6. Annual variation in fitness components
7. Age effects
8. Heritability of quantitative traits
9. Plumage colour
10. Clutch size
11. The timing of reproduction
12. Egg size
13. Body size
14. Synthesis and conclusions
15. References
16. Author index
17. Subject index