num_pages: 256
description: The earth is home to a wild proliferation of species millions of life-forms that come in a spectacular--and often bizarre--array of sizes shapes and colors. But what triggers this fantastic explosion of life? How does one species split into another? Even Charles Darwin was baffled beforesuch questions calling them The Mystery of Mysteries.In this fascinating witty and vividly written book Menno Schilthuizen illuminates these questions showing how biologists and zoologists over the last two centuries have responded to them assessing our current knowledge of species and proposing his own solution to Darwin's mystery. Usingthe sometimes-vicious academic debates and the powerful personalities of scientists as background Schilthuizen explores the meandering path of species research and sets it out in the clearest possible terms. From looking at how we define a species to exploring how geographical isolation and sexualselection contribute to making new species to showing how species may appear gradually or instantaneously Frogs Flies and Dandelions offers a comprehensive account of this evolutionary drama. Along the way we get to know a remarkable cast of characters from the plant and animal kingdoms fromthe copper-loving monkey flower to sockeye salmon fire-bellied toads lyrebirds apple maggot flies and many others. Most important we get a clear picture of all the conditions necessary for one species to give birth to another.Written with engaging panache and illuminating an area of study intensely relevant to any assessment of the earth's biodiversity Frogs Flies and Dandelions will appeal to everyone--scientist and layperson alike--curious about nature and animal behavior.
language: English
title: Frogs, Flies, and Dandelions: Speciation--The Evolution of New Species
publisher: Oxford University Press