A Primer of Ecological Genetics

This book covers basic concepts in population and quantitative genetics, including measuring selection on phenotypic traits. The emphasis is on material applicable to field studies of evolution focusing on ecologically important traits. Topics addressed are critical for training students in ecology, evolution, conservation biology, agriculture, forestry, and wildlife management.

Many texts in this field are too complex and mathematical to allow the average beginning student to readily grasp the key concepts. A Primer of Ecological Genetics, in contrast, employs mathematics and statistics—fully explained, but at a less advanced level—as tools to improve understanding of biological principles. The main goal is to enable students to understand the concepts well enough that they can gain entry into the primary literature. Integration of the different chapters of the book shows students how diverse concepts relate to each other.

About the Authors

Jeffrey K. Conner is Professor, Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Plant Biology, at Michigan State University. He earned his B.A. (Biology) at Harvard University and his Ph.D. (with Thomas Eisner, in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior) at Cornell University. His postdoctoral work with Sara Via, also at Cornell, focused on evolutionary quantitative genetics. Dr. Conner's research integrates evolution, genetics, and ecology. He has taught courses in introductory biology, behavioral ecology, population biology, ecological genetics, evolutionary biology, and field ecology and evolution.

Daniel L. Hartl is Higgins Professor of Biology in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. in Genetics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with James F. Crow, then did postdoctoral study at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Principles of Population Genetics, Third Edition, with Andrew G. Clark; A Primer of Population Genetics, Third Edition; and A Primer of Ecological Genetics, and other leading textbooks on genetics. His current areas of interest include molecular evolution, evolutionary genomics, and population genetics.