This book brings together most of the information available concerning two species (Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans) that diverged 2-3 million years ago. The objective was to try to understand why two sibling species so similar in several characteristics can be so different in others. To this end, it was crucial to confront all data from their ecology and biogeography with their behaviour and DNA polymorphism. In this book, ecologists, physiologists, geneticists, behaviourists share their data on the two sibling species, and several scenarios of evolution are put forward to explain their similarities and divergences.
From the Contents: Preface.- Biogegraphy and population structure: past and present.- Transposable elements and chromosomes.- Geographical variability and adaptation.- Speciation: pre and post zygotic isolation.