Emergent features of species: existence between populations and communities

Author(s):  
Igor Zagorodniuk

The key block of tasks in defining species as a phenomenon, as a concept, and as a category — its emergent features, is considered. These include 5 systems of features, such as 1) diagnosis (primarily morphological, including unique apomorphies); 2) genotype in the broadest sense (including karyotype); 3) system of reproduction and protection of the gene pool from mixing with foreign forms (reproductive isolation); 4) geographical range (including type habitats and distribution limits); 5) system of variability (including the presence and features of age-related changes, sexual differences, and trends in geographical variation). There is evidence that species as a reality is characterized by the properties of "repeating structures". To the latter the author includes the following six: 1) limited volumes of species composition of communities; 2) limited body-size rows of guilds; 3) parallelisms and the phenomenon of isomorphism; 4) limited number of ecotypes and the phenomenon of vicariates; 5) homeomorphies and restrictions of morphological types; 6) synperates as overlaps of range boundaries. Areas of non-alternative application of the concept of "species", including red lists, checklists, descriptions of unique parts of communities (endemics, rarities, etc.), and objects of economic value are given.

1983 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 615-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Alley

Two experiments investigated the hypothesis that age-related changes in physical appearance can alter perceived cuteness. In both experiments 67 undergraduates viewed line drawings displaying growth-produced changes in body proportions or size. In Exp. 1, they were required to select the cuter of humans depicted in 20 pairs of drawings varying in either body proportions or body size. Analysis indicated that perceived cuteness is not a monotonic function of age-related changes in body proportions or size. In Exp. 2, the subjects were asked to rank-order from least to most cute, five drawings depicting the changes in body proportions during growth. The resultant rankings indicated that perceived cuteness, as determined by body proportions, is greater for individuals from age 2 to 12 yr. than for newborns or adults. These and other observations are discussed in terms of an ethological view of the perception of cuteness.


1998 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. De BENEDICTIS ◽  
L. CAROTENUTO ◽  
G. CARRIERI ◽  
M. De LUCA ◽  
E. FALCONE ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad S. Rogers ◽  
Larry L. Jacoby ◽  
Mitchell S. Sommers ◽  
Arthur Wingfield

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