Abstract
The explanation of the maintenance of the large amount of genetic variation in natural populations is a major problem faced by evolutionary geneticists. It is proposed that Nucella lapillus would make a suitable model for the study of this problem. The presence of visible interpopulation variation in characteristics which can be utilised for such studies, is demonstrated at a particular geographic location. The importance of experimental design in studying genetic variation is emphasised.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agersborg, H. P. K., 1929. Factors in the evolution of the prosobranchiate Mollusc, Thais lapillus. Nautilus 43: 45–49.
Berry, R. J. & Crothers, J. H., 1974. Visible variation in the dog-whelk. Nucella lapillus. J. Zool. Lond. 174: 123–148.
Bantock, C. R. & Cockayne, W. C., 1975. Chromosomal polymorphism in Nucella lapillus. Heredity 34: 231–245.
Clarke, B. C., 1969. The evidence for apostatic selection. Heredity 24: 347–352.
Clarke, B. C., 1979. The evolution of genetic diversity. Proc. R. Soc., B 205: 453–474.
Colton, H. S., 1922. Variation in the dog-whelk. Thais (Purpura Auct.) lapillus. Ecology 3: 146–157.
Crothers, J. H., 1973. On variation in Nucella lapillus (L): shell shape in populations from Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Proc. maloc. Soc. Lond. 40: 319–327.
Crothers, J. H., 1974a. On variation in Nucella lapillus (L): shell shape in populations from the Bristol Channel. Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 41: 157–170.
Crothers, J. H., 1974b. On variation in the shell of the dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus (L) I. Pembrokeshire. Ad. Stud. 4: 39–60.
Crothers, J. H., 1975. On variation in Nucella lapillus: shell shape in populations from the south coast of England. Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 141: 489–498.
Ebling, F. J. et al., 1964. The ecology of Lough Ine XIII. Experimental observations of the destruction of Mytilus edulis and Nucella lapillus by crabs. J. Anim. Ecol. 33: 73–82.
Edwards, K. J. R., 1977. Evolution in modern biology. Arnold, London.
Feare, C. J., 1970. Aspects of the ecology of an exposed shore population of dogwhelks. Nucella lapillus (L) Oecologia (Berl.) 5: 1–18.
Feare, C. J., 1971. The adaptive significance of aggregation behaviour in the dogwhelk, Nucella Lapillus (L.). Oecologia (Berl.) 7: 117–126.
Ford, E. B., 1975. Ecological genetics. 4th ed., Chapman & Hall, London.
Fretter, V. & Graham, A., 1962. British prosobranch molluscs. Ray Society, London.
Gillespie, J., 1977. A general model to account for enzyme variation in natural populations. IV. Multiple alleles. Evolution, Lancaster, Pa. 31: 85–90.
Gould, S. J. & Lewontin, R. C., 1979. The spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian paradigm: a critique of the adaptionist programme. Proc. Roy. Soc. B 205: 581–598.
Hoxmark, R. C., 1971. Shell variation of Nucella lapillus in relation to environmental and genetical factors. Norw. J. Zool. 19: 145–148.
Kimura, M., 1979. The neutral theory of molecular evolution. Scient. Am., 241(5): 94–105.
Kitching, J. A., 1977. Shell form and niche occupation in Nucella lapillus (L) (Gastropoda). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 26: 275–287.
Largen, M. J., 1971. Genetic and environmental influences upon the expression of shell sculpture in the dog-whelk (Nucella lapillus). Proc. malac. Soc. Lond. 39: 383–388.
Moore, H. B., 1936. The biology of Purpura lapillus. Shell variation in relation to environment. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 21: 61–89.
Roberts, D. G., 1968. Genetic aspects of population size reduction. Nature, Lond. 220: 1084–1088.
Sheppard, P. M., 1959. Blood groups and natural selection. Br. med. Bull. 15: 134–139.
Sheppard, P. M., 1978. Natural selection and heredity. Fourth edition. Hutchinson, London.
Staiger, H., 1957. Genetical and morphological variation in Purpura lapillus with respect to local and regional differentiation of population groups. Ann. appl. Biol. 33: 251–258.
Thoday, J. M., 1972. Disruptive selection. Proc. R. Soc. 182: 109–147.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castle, S.L., Emery, A.E.H. Nucella lapillus: A possible model for the study of genetic variation in natural populations. Genetica 56, 11–15 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126924
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126924