Abstract
We have often thought that evolution is a slow and gentle process. Yet natural conditions are always severe; as a result natural selection is likely also to be severe. Simple models show that severe selection can have profound effects on the genetic characteristics of a population. This is born out by many evolutionary studies on plant species growing in normal habitats. Species occurring in metal contaminated habitats provide particularly good evidence. The metal tolerance that evolves allows species to occupy habitats from which they would otherwise be excluded. The evolutionary change can be very rapid, taking only a few generations. It can also be highly localised; a patch of ground only a few metres across can maintain a genetically distinct population, despite gene flow.
But all this can happen only if the appropriate variation is present. Many species never evolve metal tolerance. This is because they do not possess the necessary variation, a condition of genostasis. We should respect the power of evolution, but not expect that it can always achieve adaptation.
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Bradshaw, A.D. (1998). Patterns of Evolution and the Effects of Toxic Metals. In: Tsekos, I., Moustakas, M. (eds) Progress in Botanical Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5274-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5274-7_1
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