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. 1973 Jun;70(6):1875–1877. doi: 10.1073/pnas.70.6.1875

Genic Variability and Strategies of Adaptation in Animals

Robert K Selander 1, Donald W Kaufman 1
PMCID: PMC433616  PMID: 4515944

Abstract

Levels of genic heterozygosity, as measured by surveys of allozymic variation, are much lower in populations of large, mobile animals (most vertebrates) than in those of small, relatively immobile animals (most invertebrates). This difference is not consistent with theories relating variability to population size (species number) or dispersal ability (gene flow), but it is predicted by Levins' theory of adaptive strategies in relation to environmental uncertainty (“grain”). Mobility and degree of homeostatic control apparently are important factors influencing levels of genic heterozygosity in natural populations. The results argue indirectly that at least a major proportion of allozymic variation is maintained by natural selection.

Keywords: allozymes, heterozygosity, polymorphism, environmental grain

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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