Ryuichi Matsuda
BornJuly 8, 1920
DiedJune 19, 1986
OccupationEntomologist

Ryuichi Matsuda (July 8, 1920 – June 19, 1986) was a Japanese entomologist and notable advocate of the extended evolutionary synthesis.[1][2]

Biography

Matsuda obtained his PhD in entomology from Stanford University. He worked at the Biosystematics Research Institute of Canada (1968–1986).[3] He wrote several works on the comparative morphology of insects and is most well known for his controversial book Animal Evolution in Changing Environments (1987).[4][5][6]

He coined the term "pan-environmentalism" for an extended evolutionary synthesis which he saw as a fusion of Darwinism with neo-Lamarckism.[2] He held that heterochrony is a main mechanism for evolutionary change and that novelty in evolution can be generated by genetic assimilation.[2][7] His views were criticized by reviewers for being based on speculation.[7][8] Arthur M. Shapiro noted that "Matsuda himself accepts too much at face value and is prone to wish-fulfilling interpretation."[7] In contrast, John T. Polhemus positively reviewed the book, suggesting that it "should be on the shelf of anyone seriously interested in evolution theory".[9]

Interest in Matsuda's research was revived by Brian K. Hall, Gerd B. Müller and others in the volume Environment, Development, and Evolution: Toward a Synthesis (2004) which was a tribute to his ideas.[3]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ Ando, H. (1988). Obituary: Ryuichi Matsuda, 1920-1986. International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology 7: 91-94.
  2. ^ a b c d Pearson, Roy Douglas (1988). "Animal Evolution in Changing Environments". Acta Biotheoretica. 37: 31–36. doi:10.1007/BF00050806.
  3. ^ a b Scheiner, Samuel M. (2004). "The Metamorphosis of Evo-Devo". BioScience. 54 (12): 1150–1151. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[1150:TMOE]2.0.CO;2.
  4. ^ Grimaldi, David; Engel, Michael S. (2005). Evolution of the Insects. Cambridge University Press. p. 143. ISBN 0-521-82149-5
  5. ^ McCune, Amy R. (1988). Animal Evolution In Changing Environments by Ryuichi Matsuda. Science. New Series, Vol. 239, No. 4837. pp. 300-301.
  6. ^ Shaffer, H. Bradley; Grosberg, Richard K. (1989). Animal Evolution in Changing Environments with Special Reference to Abnormal Metamorphosis by Ryuichi Matsuda. Copeia. Vol. 1989, No. 4. pp. 1121-1122.
  7. ^ a b c Shapiro, Arthur M. (1988). "Animal Evolution in Changing Environments" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 42 (2): 146–147.
  8. ^ Sang, James H. (1988). "Reviewed Work: Animal Evolution in Changing Environments with Special Reference to Abnormal Metamorphosis by Ryuichi Matsuda". The Quarterly Review of Biology. 63 (1): 83–84. JSTOR 2828018.
  9. ^ Polhemus, John H. (1987). "Animal Evolution in Changing Environments with Special Reference to Abnormal Metamorphosis". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 83 (3): 654. doi:10.1093/aesa/83.3.654.

Further reading

Categories