"Schluter succinctly and clearly details the progress that has been made toward a theory of adaptive radiation during the last five decades. He also offers readers an abundant supply of fresh concepts and methods that will facilitate further progress. [This] is an absolute 'must read' for all graduate students in the fields of ecology and evolution and for anyone interested in evolutionary diversity. It will become a classic."--Science

"Adaptive radiation is defined as the evolution of ecological diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Dolph Schluter ... aims to examine the evidence assembled over the succeeding half-century for what he calls 'the ecological theory' of adaptive radiation, which proposes that both the origin of species and the evolution of phenotypic differences are caused by divergent natural selection, driven by environmental differences and interspecific competition. I found Schluter's book concise and well written, in the 'journal review article style' of the Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution. Researchers in the field should find the volume indispensable for the clarity with which the author summarises existing information and delineates just what has and has not been supported by empirical evidence. Seemingly plausible ideas are often less well supported than one might expect. ... Essential reading for anyone interested in the topic, from advanced undergraduates onwards."--Heredity

"[A] comprehensive and up-to-date review of the evidence for character displacement, and an assessment of the evidence for evolutionary trends in adaptive radiations using phylogenetic approaches. ... Various strong points will make this volume indispensable for ecologists. ... the design of the book allows for synthesis across diverse natural systems, while each aspect of theory is treated separately."--Ecology