Energy return on investment as master driver of evolution

Abstract

I repeat: “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” Theodosius Dobzhansky (1973). This chapter is about energy and evolution. We start with a brief review of Darwinian evolution, then build on that by first considering another important question in ecology relating to the distribution and abundance of species. I do this through a summary of some of the most important history on this issue.