The theoretical Significance of Amphibian Anomalies from the Standpoint of the Module Principle

Abstract

The morphological deviations of amphibians are analyzed from the standpoint of the module principle of biological systems and mechanisms of evolution. This predetermines the similarity of evolutionary changes in different groups and limits the number of possible ways for evolutionary development. The populations of eight Uralian species of amphibians are analyzed for deviation variants that are norms for other species. Also discussed are potential spectra of deviations and ecological profiling of phenotypes from the point of view an “ecological sieve”. The environment plays a significant regulatory role in the diversification of ontogenesis. This is why morphological deviations can be significant pointers for discovering the reality of a population’s morphogenesis.