Evolutionary Processes in Anthropogenic Biogeochemical Provinces

Abstract

The role of anthropogenic biogeochemical provinces in modern evolutionary transformations of the organic world is discussed in light of A.P. Vinogradov’s theory. The existence of anthropogenically impacted microevolution follows from numerous facts of changes in biological species at contaminated habitats. The impacts of two key factors on the genetic pool of a population are discussed: the accumulation of recessive mutations and the systematic selection of tolerant genotypes. The tolerance of organisms is demonstrated to be of polygenetic nature, and hence, selection can proceed in a population simultaneously at various loci and alleles. The selection of a resistant genotype weakens the adaptability of the population to other extremal factors of the environment. External factors and the structure of a population control the rate and avenues of the evolutionary transformations.