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Annals of Botany 2005 95(4):705; doi:10.1093/aob/mci073
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Annals of Botany 95/4 © Annals of Botany Company 2005; all rights reserved

BOOK REVIEWS

Ecological genetics: design, analysis and application.

Lowe A, Harris S, Ashton P. 2004.

Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

£29.99 (softback). 344 pp

Dion Devey


This book introduces readers to a whole range of topics associated with ecological genetics by covering such subjects as genetic markers and sampling, genetic diversity, gene flow, hybridization and phylogeny construction. Within these chapters there is an overview of the terms and materials used and an introduction to the techniques themselves. The book aims to tackle what can be a confusing and complicated subject in a format that is concise yet informative. The need for researchers to understand and utilize the correct sampling strategy and statistical analysis cannot be overstated, particularly in an era where increasingly large amounts of data are being generated through increased use of molecular techniques to address ecological research.

The book serves to focus attention on the importance of selecting a hypothesis prior to ecological research and deciding what tests would be necessary to prove or disprove it. A number of salient points were made regarding the poor practice of collecting data in a haphazard fashion and the loss of efficiency with reference to both time and resources that may result.

The description of molecular techniques and the rationale behind their use is very good. Subjects such as AFLPs, which often prove a complicated topic to introduce, are presented in a straightforward and comprehensible way. Additionally, the importance of choosing the correct molecular marker depending on the type of question to be answered is emphasized.

In some places the diagrams are overly complex and may have better served the reader if the topic had been introduced in a simpler way in one diagram, and then the subject had been expanded in a further diagram.

Overall, this book will prove a valuable tool to those at undergraduate or postgraduate levels. Should researchers need to utilize any of the techniques covered in any great detail it may prove necessary for more advanced publications to be sought, but as an introduction and overview I would recommend it. As there is a comprehensive reference list at the end of each chapter, researchers should find no difficulty in finding texts that focus more narrowly on the subject in question.


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This Article
Right arrow Extract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
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Right arrow Email this article to a friend
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Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Devey, D.
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PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Devey, D.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Devey, D.
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What's this?