Quantitative Aspekte der regressiven Evolution – dargestellt am Beispiel der Augenrückbildung bei Höhlenfischen

Quantitative aspects of regressive evolution – demonstrated by the reduction of the eyes in cave fishes According to our present understanding, the eyes of cave fishes are no longer subject to a stabilizing selection. Because of a strong mutation pressure in the destructive direction, this leads to a continual enrichment of elimination mutants and thereby to a progressive reduction of the eyes after separation of a cave population. Obviously a natural selection process does not play a significant role in the reduction of the eyes in cave fishes. Based on these findings, the degeneration process can be characterized in detail, especially concerning its course and duration.