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The Concept of Convergent Evolution and Its Relationship to the Understanding of Form and Function

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Convergent Evolution

Part of the book series: Fascinating Life Sciences ((FLS))

Abstract

Within the field of evolutionary biology, divergence and convergence are two major phenomena that have helped shape the diversity and disparity of the Earth’s biota throughout the history of life. Exploration of them has contributed to the interpretation of dissimilarities (divergence) and similarities (convergence) in organismic form, function and behaviour at various hierarchical levels and how they favour, in some fashion, the emergence of optimal traits via natural and/or sexual selection across the full spectrum of occupied environments.

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Acknowledgments

We are highly grateful to Alex Werth for his comments on this introduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Systematics, Evolution, Biodiversity, ISYEB – UMR 7205 – CNRS/MNHN/EPHE/UA, National Museum of Natural History, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

    Vincent L. Bels

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Anthony P. Russell

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Correspondence to Vincent L. Bels .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Systematics, Evolution, Biodiversity, ISYEB – UMR 7205 – CNRS/MNHN/EPHE/UA, National Museum of Natural History, Sorbonne University, Paris, France

    Vincent L. Bels

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Anthony P. Russell

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Bels, V.L., Russell, A.P. (2023). The Concept of Convergent Evolution and Its Relationship to the Understanding of Form and Function. In: Bels, V.L., Russell, A.P. (eds) Convergent Evolution. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11441-0_1

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