This does not throw good light on the research
of Prof. Andrew P. Hendry. Already his article in
Science about the speciation of a new salmon population
due to reproductive isolation ("Rapid Evolution of Reproductive
Isolation in the Wild: Evidence from Introduced Salmon",
A. P. Hendry et al., Science 290 (2000) 516-518)
was controversial.
Basically his new letter to Nature seems to say
that he does not really understand evolution, is
perplexed and that *he* does not have a good
measure for the typical strength of natural
selection.
Evolutionary Biology: The Power Of Natural Selection
Andrew P. Hendry
Nature 433 (2005) 694-695
Some Quotes I found:
"Adaptation by natural selection is the centrepiece of biology.
Yet evolutionary biologists may be deluding themselves if they
think they have a good handle on the typical strength of selection
in nature. [...]
These results raise some perplexing questions. Principal among
them is the apparent paradox that typical studies of selection
do not have the statistical power necessary to detect selection
that appears unrealistically strong. Unfortunately, this paradox
will not be resolved simply by accumulating more data of the same
ilk, as all reviews identify problems with our current methods.
How, then, are we to obtain a good handle on the true power of
selection in nature? Evolutionary biologists will have to resolve
this uncertainty by determining how best to measure and judge the
strength of selection, and by conducting more robust studies of
selection.
Meanwhile, we are only deluding ourselves that we have a good
handle on the typical power of selection in nature. Once we do,
we can begin to investigate how humans are changing selection
pressures, and whether populations and species will be able to adapt
accordingly."
Andrew P. Hendry is Assistant Prof. at the
Biology Deptartment of McGill University
http://www.biology.mcgill.ca/faculty/hendry/The Hendry Lab investigates evolution, rates of evolution,
and factors that influence the evolution of biological diversity,
natural selection, adaptation, and reproductive isolation.
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