Author Description

Melanism: Evolution in Action describes a ubiquitous biological phenomenon, the existence of dark forms of many species of mammals, insects, and some plants. Melanism is a particularly important phenomenon for understanding evolution. Unlike many polymorphisms, the rise of a melanic population within a species can be identified easily and often occurs quickly. Examples of melanism include one of the most famous illustrations of natural selection, the peppered moth. This beautifully illustrated book, the first on melanism since 1973, gives a lucid and up-to-date appraisal of the subject. The first four chapters place melanism in historical and scientific context, giving numerous examples and an overview of physical and genetic properties. The next five chapters focus on melanism in moths and ladybugs; they examine the diverse evolutionary reasons for melanism and uncover some of the complexities behind this apparently simple phenomenon. The final chapter looks at the important role melanism plays in evolutionary biology. Written in an engaging and readable style, this book will have broad appeal to students and researchers in evolution, ecology, entomology, and genetics.