Springer Lost Sex: Evolutionary Biology of Parthenogenesis - Springer

Lost Sex explores one of evolutionary biology's most enduring paradoxes: why sexual reproduction persists despite its significant evolutionary costs. This Springer publication examines the fate of animal and plant groups where sex has been lost, investigating whether asexual lineages face early extinction as contemporary hypotheses predict. The book presents decades of research into why sex remains prevalent across species, despite the apparent advantages of asexual reproduction. Through detailed analysis of parthenogenesis and reproductive strategies, it addresses the fundamental question of sex's evolutionary purpose and traces the consequences for organisms that abandon sexual reproduction entirely. Essential reading for researchers, students, and professionals studying evolutionary biology, genetics, and reproductive strategies.