The evolution of large size: how does Cope's Rule work? [An article from: Trends in Ecology & Evolution]

This digital document is a journal article from Trends in Ecology & Evolution, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Cope's Rule is the tendency for organisms in evolving lineages to increase in size over time. The concept is detailed in many textbooks, but has rarely been demonstrated. Many suggestions of the benefits of large body size exist, but none has yet been confirmed empirically. Using a large-scale analysis of recent studies, Kingsolver and Pfennig have now shown how size benefits survival, mating success and fecundity, and they provide convincing arguments for a mechanism that is capable of driving Cope's Rule.