Publication
Beyond Mendel: a call to revisit the genotype–phenotype map through new experimental paradigms
Recommended Citation Tautz, D., Pallares, L. F., Andersson, L., Barghi, N., Barton, N., Bay, R., Chan, Y. F., Hancock, A., Kaiser, T. S., Ko...
January 2026
The effects of developmental temperature and inbreeding on sexually selected traits of male guppies ( Poecilia reticulata )
Project
The evolution and philosophy of endogenous death
The fate of every organism is death—or so it seems.
Project
Developing a hypothesis on the “domestication syndrome” of animals
The domestication of many animal species was a key element in the development of human societies.
Project
The evolutionary history of the human face, a multi-disciplinary detective story
Like all complex animals, humans have faces.
Project
A new evolutionary perspective on the nature of the individual
A book entitled Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy(with Columbia University Press) will be completed and published.
Project
Ecological elimination as a major evolutionary force
Populations fluctuate but seem generally stable in the long run.
Project
Ecological and non-ecological speciation mechanisms
During the past decade, there has been a lot of interest among evolutionary biologists in ecological niche-based) speciation processes, under the scientific umbrella of The ecological theory of adaptive radiations.
Project
Conceptual Foundations of Cell Mortality
Durand, P. M., & Ramsey, G. 2025. Conceptual Foundations of Cell Mortality. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2025_328
Publication
The Red Queen and the Timescale of Antagonistic Coevolution: Parasite Selection for Genetic Diversity
Ebert, D. 2025. The Red Queen and the Timescale of Antagonistic Coevolution: Parasite Selection for Genetic Diversity. Annual Review of Gene...
Publication
Winner–loser effects on life history traits
Harrison, L. M., Stuart, O. P., & Jennions, M. D. 2025. Winner–loser effects on life history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 38...
Publication
Paternity analysis reveals sexual selection on cognitive performance in mosquitofish
Vinogradov, I. M., Fox, R. J., Fichtel, C., Kappeler, P. M., & Jennions, M. D. 2025. Paternity analysis reveals sexual selection on cogn...
Project
Life: autonomy in evolution
This project consists in writing a monograph about the irreducible and pervasive complexity of the natural world (the biological world, in particular), and about the importance of becoming increasingly aware of this intrinsic complexity, in continuous development and evolution (more so when combined with the artificial worlds recently created by humans), if we are to handle adequately future challenges for science and society.
Publication
Developmental temperature, not inbreeding, shapes life history and locomotor behaviours in juvenile guppies ( Poecilia reticulata )
Recommended Citation Mahmud-Al-Hasan, M., Jennions, M. D., & Head, M. L. (2025). Developmental temperature, not inbreeding, shapes life ...
Publication
The Red Queen and the Timescale of Antagonistic Coevolution: Parasite Selection for Genetic Diversity
Recommended Citation Ebert, D. (2025). The Red Queen and the Timescale of Antagonistic Coevolution: Parasite Selection for Genetic Diversity...
Publication
Inbreeding and high developmental temperatures affect cognition and boldness in guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
Vinogradov, I. M., Zang, C., Mahmud-Al-Hasan, M., Head, M. L., & Jennions, M. D. (2024). Inbreeding and high developmental temperatures ...
Publication
Does the potential strength of sexual selection differ between mating systems with and without defensive behaviours? A meta‐analysis.
Macedo‐Rego, Renato C., Michael D. Jennions, and Eduardo S. A. Santos. 2024. Does the potential strength of sexual selection differ between ...
Publication
Fitness as the organismal performance measure guiding adaptive evolution
Fromhage, Lutz, Michael D. Jennions, Lauri Myllymaa and Jonathan M Henshaw. 2024. Fitness as the organismal performance measure guiding adap...
Publication
Does losing reduce the tendency to engage with rivals to reach mates? An experimental test.
Zang, Chenke, Meng-Han Joseph Chung, Teresa Neeman, Lauren Harrison, Ivan M Vinogradov, Michael D Jennions. 2024. Does losing reduce the ten...
Publication
Effects of inbreeding and elevated rearing temperatures on strategic sperm investment
Chung, Meng-Han Joseph, Md Mahmud-Al-Hasan, Michael D Jennions and Megan L Head. 2024. Effects of inbreeding and elevated rearing temperatur...
Publication
Male allocation to ejaculation and mating effort imposes different life history trade-offs
Chung, Meng-Han Joseph, Rebecca J. Fox and Michael D. Jennions. 2024. Male allocation to ejaculation and mating effort imposes different lif...
Publication
Surviving the Anthropocene: A Darwinian Guide
Brooks, Daniel R. and Salvatore J. Agosta. 2024. Surviving the Anthropocene: A Darwinian Guide. Global Perspectives, 5(1). https://doi.org/1...
Publication
Sexual dimorphism in subterranean amphipod crustaceans covaries with subterranean habitat type
Premate, Ester, Žiga Fišer, AnnaBiró, Denis Copilaş-Ciocianu, Lutz Fromhage, Michael Jennions, Špela Borko, Gábor Herczeg, Gergely Balázs, S...
Publication
Mitochondrial function and sexual selection: can physiology resolve the ‘lek paradox’?
Crino, Ondi L., Megan L. Head, Michael D. Jennions and Daniel W.A. Noble. 2024. Mitochondrial function and sexual selection: can physiology ...
Publication
Effects of past mating behavior versus past ejaculation on male mate choice and male attractiveness
Chung, Meng-Han Joseph, Megan L Head, Rebecca J. Fox and Michael D Jennions. 2024. Effects of past mating behavior versus past ejaculation o...
Project
A new evolutionary perspective on the nature of the individual
The evolution of individuality was first systematically addressed in a very influential book by Leo Buss in 1987.
Project
Extending the concept of local adaptation
Most species occur in subdivided (fragmented) populations.
Project
Taking Evolutionary Biology Beyond the Gene
Evolution depends on the copying of genetic information (DNA) with the incorporation of changes (mutations) that are inherited by subsequent generations.
Publication
Origin Africa: Safaris in Deep Time
Kingdon, Jonathan. 2023. Origin Africa: Safaris in Deep Time. HarperCollins Publishers. https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Origin_Africa...
Publication
The Stockholm Paradigm Explains the Dynamics of Darwin’s Entangled Bank, Including Emerging Infectious Disease
Agosta, Salvatore J. 2022. The Stockholm Paradigm Explains the Dynamics of Darwin’s Entangled Bank, Including Emerging Infectious Disease. M...
Publication
The Stockholm Paradigm: Lessons for the Emerging Infectious Disease Crisis
Brooks, Daniel R., Walter A. Boeger and Eric P. Hoberg. 2022. The Stockholm Paradigm: Lessons for the Emerging Infectious Disease Crisis. MA...
Publication
Ecology drives the evolution of diverse social strategies in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Figueiredo, Alexandre R. T., Andreas Wagner, A and Rolf Kümmerli. 2021. Ecology drives the evolution of diverse social strategies in Pseudom...
Publication
The length scale of multivalent interactions is evolutionarily conserved in fungal and vertebrate phase-separating proteins
Dasmeh, Pouria, Roman Doronin and Andreas Wagner. 2022. The length scale of multivalent interactions is evolutionarily conserved in fungal a...
Publication
Selection on growth rate and local adaptation drive genomic adaptation during experimental range expansions in the protist Tetrahymena thermophila
Moerman, Felix, Emanuel A. Fronhofer, Florian Altermatt and Andreas Wagner. 2022. Selection on growth rate and local adaptation drive genomi...
Publication
Ecological super‐spreaders drive host–range oscillations: Omicron and risk space for emerging infectious disease
Boeger, Walter A., Daniel R. Brooks, Valeria Trivellone, Salvatore J. Agosta and Eric P. Hoberg. 2022. Ecological super‐spreaders drive host...
Publication
Environmental complexity is more important than mutation in driving the evolution of latent novel traits in E. coli
Karve, Shraddha and Andreas Wagner. 2022. Environmental complexity is more important than mutation in driving the evolution of latent novel ...
Project
Was the Cape a biotic reservoir in the repopulation of Africa after the KT extinction event 66 MY ago?
The extinction of dinosaurs after a 10 km wide meteor struck Earth in today’s Caribbean, 66 million years ago, marked the division between the Cretaceous and Cenozoic (popularly known as the Age of Mammals).
Project
Conspecifics matter – An integrated approach to reveal the basis and the significance of social interactions
Social interactions are central to most organisms and the social environment experienced by an individual influences its behaviour and ultimately its (evolutionary) fitness.
Publication
Adaptive evolvability through direct selection instead of indirect, second-order selection
Wagner, Andreas. 2022. Adaptive evolvability through direct selection instead of indirect, second‐order selection. Journal of Experimental Z...
Project
Sleeping beauties: Dormant innovations in nature and culture
Innovations in biological evolution and in human culture – from science to the arts – arise by processes with multiple parallels.
Project
The Evolutionary Commons
Humanity is facing an existential crisis from global climate change.
Publication
The Major Metaphors of Evolution: Darwinism Then and Now
Agosta, Salvatore J and Daniel R. Brooks. 2020. The Major Metaphors of Evolution: Darwinism Then and Now. Springer. https://www.springer.com...
Publication
John Tyler Bonner: Remembering a scientific pioneer
Brigandt, Ingo, Laura A. Katz, Vidyanand Nanjundiah, Scott F. Gilbert, Peter R. Grant, Rosemary B. Grant, Alan C. Love, Stuart A. Newman, Ma...
Publication
Many roads lead to Rome: Neutral phenotypes in microorganisms
Nanjundiah, Vidyanand. 2019. Many roads lead to Rome: Neutral phenotypes in microorganisms. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecula...
Publication
The “Domestication Syndrome” in Mammals: A Unified Explanation Based on Neural Crest Cell Behavior and Genetics
Adam S. Wilkins, Richard W. Wrangham and W. Tecumseh Fitch. 2014. The “Domestication Syndrome” in Mammals: A Unified Explanation Based on Ne...
Publication
The role of piloerection in primate thermoregulation
G Chaplin, NG Jablonski, RW Sussman and EA Kelley. 2014. The role of piloerection in primate thermoregulation. Folia Primatologica, 85 (1), ...
Publication
Code Biology
Barbieri, Marcello. 2015. Code Biology. Dordrecht: Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-14535-8.
Publication
Ernst Mayr’s Interactions with J. B. S. Haldane
Rao, Veena and Vidyanand Nanjundiah. 2016. Ernst Mayr’s Interactions with J. B. S. Haldane. History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences 38(1...
Publication
Simply Darwin
Ruse, Michael. 2016. Simply Darwin. New York: Simply Charly. http://simplycharly.com/people/charles-darwin/read/books/simply-darwin
Publication
Science, Evolution, and Religion
Peterson, Michael and Michael Ruse. 2016. Science, Evolution, and Religion. New York: Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academ...
Publication
Debating Darwin
Richards, Robert J and Michael Ruse. 2016. Debating Darwin. Chicago: Universtity of Chicago Press. http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/...
Publication
Darwinism as Religion: What Literature Tells Us about Evolution
Ruse, Michael. 2016. Darwinism as Religion: What Literature Tells Us about Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.co...
Publication
What Explains Rare and Conspicuous Colours in a Snail? A Test of Time-Series Data against Models of Drift, Migration or Selection
Johannesson, Kerstin and Roger K Butlin. 2017. What Explains Rare and Conspicuous Colours in a Snail? A Test of Time-Series Data against Mod...
Publication
Making Faces. The Evolutionary Origins of the Human Face
Wilkins, Adam. S. 2017. Making Faces. The Evolutionary Origins of the Human Face. Harvard University Press. http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catal...
Publication
Science, Evolution and Religion: A Debate about Atheism and Theism
Peterson, Michael and Michael Ruse. 2017. Science, Evolution and Religion: A Debate about Atheism and Theism. New York: Oxford University Pr...
Publication
Purpose & Desire
Turner, J. Scott. 2017. Purpose & Desire. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062651563/purpose-and-desire
Publication
The Stockholm Paradigm: Climate Change and Emerging Disease
Brooks, Daniel R, Eric P. Hoberg and Walter A. Boeger. The Stockholm Paradigm: Climate Change and Emerging Disease. University of Chicago Pr...
Publication
Embracing Colonizations: A New Paradigm for Species Association Dynamics
Nylin, Sören, Salvatore Agosta, Staffan Bensch, Walter A. Boeger, Mariana P. Braga, Daniel R. Brooks, Matthew L. Forister, Peter A. Hambäck,...
Publication
Competition between Silicifiers and Non-silicifiers in the Past and Present Ocean and Its Evolutionary Impacts
Hendry, Katharine R., Alan O. Marron, Flora Vincent, Daniel J. Conley, Marion Gehlen, Federico M. Ibarbalz, Bernard Quéguiner and Chris Bowl...
Publication
Coupling, Reinforcement, and Speciation
Butlin, Roger K. and Carole M Smadja. 2018. Coupling, Reinforcement, and Speciation. The American Naturalist, 191(2), 155–172. https://doi.o...
Project
From one to many: parallels between the origins of multicellularity and social behaviour
When a unit of description makes way for a second unit that consists of many members of the first, the notion of individuality, which initially referred to the ‘one’, now refers to the ‘many’.
Project
Life in the transients
This project will explore a new theory of adaptation that I have termed Life in the Transients (LIT).
Project
The scorpion chemosensory organs (project 1) & Biological contexts of pain perception and suffering in experimental animals (project 2)
1. The scorpion chemosensory organs have a number of unusual properties, making them an intriguing research object for neurobiologists.
Project
Bridging between the Physical and Biological Worlds
Living and non-living systems are strikingly different.
Project
The role of natural selection in the origin of species
The splitting of one biological species into two, speciation, is a central process in evolutionary biology.
Project
The malaise of the human condition: Social diagnostics, human evolution and theological discourse on the contingency of “sin”
Social diagnostics gained some currency in the South African context through the Diagnostic Report (2011) produced by the National Planning Commission.
