A Primer of Population Biology

An introduction to population biology.

1. How to Learn Population Biology

    The Necessity of a Quantitative Approach
    How Much Genetics and Mathematics Are Needed?
    How to Construct a Mathematical Model

2. Population Genetics

    Definition of Evolution
    Characteristics of Mutations
    The Magnitude of Mutations
    Stability of Gene Frequencies
    The Significance of Sexual Reproduction
    The Agents of Evolution
    Mutation Pressure
    Meiotic Drive
    Gene Flow
    Natural Selection: General Principles
    Directional Selection: Quantitative Theory
    Joint Effects of Mutation and Selection
    Joint Effects of Gene Flow and Selection
    Balanced Polymorphism
    Genetic Load
    Evolution in a Heterogeneous Environment
    Heritability and Polygenic Inheritance
    The Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection
    Genetic Drift
    The Substitution of Neutral Genes

3. Ecology

    The Population Basis of Ecology
    Elementary Population Growth
    r and K Selection
    Demography
    Predation
    Food Webs and Population Stability
    The Measurement of Diversity
    Energy Flow and Population Turnover
    Competition

4. Biogeography: Species Equilibrium Theory

    The Area-Species Curve
    The Equilibrium Model
    Area and Distance Effects

Glossary
Index