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Science 26 August 1977:
Vol. 197. no. 4306, pp. 837 - 843
DOI: 10.1126/science.887925
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Articles

Science, Vol 197, Issue 4306, 837-843
Copyright © 1977 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Animal parthenogenesis

O Cuellar

The available evidence on the ecological factors favoring the existence and origin of natural parthenogenesis is evaluated. Analysis of the geographical distributions of the well-known cases of animal parthenogenesis in nature reveals (i) that most of these species exist in natural disclimax communities and (ii) that within these communities they exist in isolation from closely related congeneric species. Parthenogenesis can only evolve in areas devoid of the generating bisexual species, because such species would prevent newly formed unisexuals from establishing clones due either to hybridization or competition. Furthermore, the two unique features allowing parthenogenetic species to invade and occupy open habitats faster than bisexuals are (i) a double intrinsic rate of increase and (ii) the ability of one individual to establish a new colony.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Multiple Parthenoforms of Empoasca Leafhoppers from Madeira Island: Where Are These Unisexual Forms Coming From?.
D. Aguin-Pombo, V. Kuznetsova, and N. Freitas (2006)
J. Hered. 97, 171-176
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Infantile stimulation induces brain lateralization in rats.
V. Denenberg, J Garbanati, D. Sherman, D. Yutzey, and R Kaplan (1978)
Science 201, 1150-1152
   Abstract »    PDF »
Parthenogenetic Lizards.
P. E. VANZOLINI (1978)
Science 201, 1152
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Parthenogenetic Lizards.
C. J. COLE (1978)
Science 201, 1154-1155
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