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Table of Contents
Part I IN SEARCH FOR A FUNCTIONAL EXPLANATION
1 Introduction: contemporary biology struggles to explain the great diversity of genotypes and species
2 Methodological excursion: an apology for theoretical synthesis, simplicity, deductive method and conceptual modelling
3 Species do not just struggle
4 Species diversity as trophic specialisation
5 Producer diversity as reflection of variation in the abiotic environment
6 Do consumers maintain diversity of their food sources
7 Species diversity ensures higher total biomass and helps to stabilise it
8 Conspecifics do not just struggle either
9 Genotype diversity as even more delicate specialisation
10 Environmental fluctuations and the daily role of selection
11 Summing-up: Biodiversity and plasticity of life (General Adaptation Theory)
12 So, is nature a battlefield or a cooperative arena?
Part II IN SEARCH FOR A SYNTHETIC EXPLANATION
13 Why an evolutionary biologist should start with ecological succession
14 Primary succession and self-organisation of biodiversity
15 Colonisation of the Hawaiian Islands, or how evolution complements succession
16 Self-assembly of ecosystems in the Paleozoic: Overview of the latest sources
17 Self-assembly of ecosystems in the Paleozoic: Interpretation and summary
18 The origin of life, and self-assembly of modern nutrient cycles
19 Appearance of modern ecological pyramids. Summing-up
20 Supercompetitors. Homo sapiens as a consumer of biodiversity
21 Has Darwins theory really become obsole
AFTERWORD
INDEX.
1 Introduction: contemporary biology struggles to explain the great diversity of genotypes and species
2 Methodological excursion: an apology for theoretical synthesis, simplicity, deductive method and conceptual modelling
3 Species do not just struggle
4 Species diversity as trophic specialisation
5 Producer diversity as reflection of variation in the abiotic environment
6 Do consumers maintain diversity of their food sources
7 Species diversity ensures higher total biomass and helps to stabilise it
8 Conspecifics do not just struggle either
9 Genotype diversity as even more delicate specialisation
10 Environmental fluctuations and the daily role of selection
11 Summing-up: Biodiversity and plasticity of life (General Adaptation Theory)
12 So, is nature a battlefield or a cooperative arena?
Part II IN SEARCH FOR A SYNTHETIC EXPLANATION
13 Why an evolutionary biologist should start with ecological succession
14 Primary succession and self-organisation of biodiversity
15 Colonisation of the Hawaiian Islands, or how evolution complements succession
16 Self-assembly of ecosystems in the Paleozoic: Overview of the latest sources
17 Self-assembly of ecosystems in the Paleozoic: Interpretation and summary
18 The origin of life, and self-assembly of modern nutrient cycles
19 Appearance of modern ecological pyramids. Summing-up
20 Supercompetitors. Homo sapiens as a consumer of biodiversity
21 Has Darwins theory really become obsole
AFTERWORD
INDEX.