Résumé :
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The act of compiling the vast array of information contained in this book would be a daunting task for a single individual. Analyzing the data would require much of the career of an able, determined systematic entomologist. But these tasks were achieved within a few years because of a based on features of adults, will be reduced, though the spirit of cooperation that drew together workers (three possibility of discovery of new species or subspecies must editors, 14 authors, and 38 additional contributors from be acknowledged. Discovery of species known only as fosover 20 European nations), each of whom contributed to sils may be expected, and they will require description. the enterprise some unique aspect of Carabus lore. Indeed, Further, stage one study of the immature stages will be cooperation is the method being used increasingly to important. achieve broadly conceived, complex tasks. This book is primarily an endeavor in second stage sys- This particular cooperative venture seems to have grown tematics, being an extensive revision with a base in evoluout of the association of carabid specialists drawn together tionary theory, and an abundance of other information, through the peripatetic European Carabidologists Meet- much of which is based on ecological theory about species ings, the first of which, organized by Piet den Boer, and level divergence. It will provide the basis for third stage held at Wijster, in The Netherlands, in 1969, primarily to analyses, which involve formulation of more sophistidiscuss the then rapidly expanding knowledge of ecologi- cated phylogenetic hypotheses and their testing, in part cal aspects of European carabids. The ending of the Cold with extensive use of molecular and genetic techniques, War facilitated discourse and joint action between Eastern more detailed studies of ethology and ecological aspects, and Western European carabidologists. and studies of interactions with one another of sympatric As this volume shows, European carabidologists have species. Having effectively removed the European taxa of brought knowledge of Carabus a considerable distance from the genus Carabus from the hands of the describers, this what was known about the group in die 18th century. synthetic treatment offers this genus to those seeking taxa Hopefully knowledge of the genus is through the first for investigation of biological phenomena. We may hope stage of systematic endeavor (i.e., concentration on basic that this offer is seized upon, and that the name Carabus taxonomie description), so that investment of the taxo- becomes, as it should, as well known in biological circles as nomic enterprise in naming yet more intraspecific variants is die naine Drosophila.
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