Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books

Book SynopsisThe discovery of the first species of African hominin, Australopithecus africanus, from Taung, South Africa in 1924, launched the study of fossil man in Africa. New discoveries continue to confirm the importance of this region to our understanding of human evolution. Outlining major developments since Raymond Dart's description of the Taung skull and, in particular, the impact of the pioneering work of Phillip V. Tobias, this book will be a valuable companion for students and researchers of human origins. It presents a summary of the current state of palaeoanthropology, reviewing the ideas that are central to the field, and provides a perspective on how future developments will shape our knowledge about hominin emergence in Africa. A wide range of key themes are covered, from the earliest fossils from Chad and Kenya, to the origins of bipedalism and the debate about how and where modern humans evolved and dispersed across Africa.Trade Review'African Genesis is a good contribution to the paleoanthropological literature and it will undoubtedly find its way into many university libraries.' Jeremy M. DeSilva, American Journal of Human BiologyTable of ContentsList of contributors; Foreword J. T. Francis Thackeray; 1. African genesis: an evolving paradigm Sally C. Reynolds; 2. Academic genealogy Peter Ungar and Phillip V. Tobias; Part I. In Search of Origins: Evolutionary Theory, New Species, and Paths into the Past: 3. Speciation in hominin evolution Colin Groves; 4. Searching for a new paradigm for hominid origins in Chad (Central Africa) Michel Brunet; 5. From hominoid arboreality to hominid bipedalism Brigitte Senut; 6. Orrorin and the African ape/hominid dichotomy Martin Pickford; 7. A brief history and results of 40 years of Sterkfontein excavations Ronald J. Clarke; Part II. Hominin Morphology Through Time: Brains, Bodies and Teeth: 8. Hominin brain evolution, 1925–2011: an emerging overview Dean Falk; 9. The issue of brain reorganisation in Australopithecus and early hominids: Dart had it right Ralph L. Holloway; 10. The mass of the human brain: is it a spandrel? Paul R. Manger, Jason Hemingway, Muhammad Spocter and Andrew Gallagher; 11. Origin and diversity of early hominin bipedalism Henry M. McHenry; 12. Forelimb adaptations in Australopithecus afarensis Michelle S. M. Drapeau; 13. Hominin proximal femur morphology from the Tugen Hills to Flores Brian G. Richmond and William L. Jungers; 14. Daily rates of dentine formation and root extension rates in Paranthropus boisei, KNM-ER 1817, from Koobi Fora, Kenya M. Christopher Dean; 15. On the evolutionary development of early hominid molar teeth and the Gondolin Paranthropus molar Kevin L. Kuykendall; 16. Digital South African fossils: morphological studies using reference-based reconstruction and electronic preparation Gerhard W. Weber, Philipp Gunz, Simon Neubauer, Philipp Mitteroecker and Fred L. Bookstein; Part III. Modern Human Origins: Patterns, and Processes: 17. Body size in African Middle Pleistocene Homo Steven E. Churchill, Lee R. Berger, Adam Hartstone-Rose and Headman Zondo; 18. The African origin of recent humanity Milford H. Wolpoff and Sang-Hee Lee; 19. Assimilation and modern human origins in the African peripheries Fred H. Smith, Vance T. Hutchinson and Ivor Janković; 20. Patterns of Middle Pleistocene hominin evolution in Africa and the emergence of modern humans Emma Mbua and Günter Bräuer; 21. Integration of the genetic, anatomical, and archaeological data for the African origin of modern humans: problems and prospects Osbjorn M. Pearson; Part IV. In Search of Context: Hominin Environments, Behaviour and Lithic Cultures: 22. Animal palaeocommunity variability and habitat preference of robust australopiths in South Africa Darryl J. de Ruiter, Matt Sponheimer and Julia Lee-Thorp; 23. Impacts of environmental change and community ecology on the composition and diversity of the southern African monkey fauna from the Plio-Pleistocene to the present Sarah Elton; 24. African genesis revisited: reflections on Raymond Dart and the 'Predatory Transition from Ape(-Man) to Man' Travis R. Pickering; 25. Shared intention in early artefacts: an exploration of deep structure and implications for communication and language John A. J. Gowlett; 26. Sibudu Cave: recent archaeological work on the Middle Stone Age Lyn Wadley; 27. The oldest burials and their significance Avraham Ronen; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe cognitive abilities of birds are remarkable: hummingbirds integrate spatial and temporal information about food sources, day-old chicks have a sense of numbers, parrots can make and use tools, and ravens have sophisticated insights in social relationships. This volume describes the full range of avian cognitive abilities, the mechanisms behind such abilities and how they relate to the ecology of the species. Synthesising the latest research in avian cognition, a range of experts in the field provide first-hand insights into experimental procedures, outcomes and theoretical advances, including a discussion of how the findings in birds relate to the cognitive abilities of other species, including humans. The authors cover a range of topics such as spatial cognition, social learning, tool use, perceptual categorization and concept learning, providing the broader context for students and researchers interested in the current state of avian cognition research, its key questions and apprTable of ContentsPreface Carel ten Cate and Susan D. Healy; 1. Introduction: avian cognition – why and what? Carel ten Cate and Susan D. Healy; 2. Spatial cognition in birds James F. Reichert, Sebastian Schwarz and Debbie M. Kelly; 3. Spatial cognition and ecology: hummingbirds as a case study Susan D. Healy and T. Andrew Hurly; 4. Food storing and memory David F. Sherry; 5. Avian cognition and the evolution of warning signals Candy Rowe, John Skelhorn, Christina G. Halpin; 6. Social learning and innovation Louis Lefebvre and Lucy M. Aplin; 7. Solving foraging problems: top-down and bottom-up perspectives on the role of cognition Andrea S. Griffin and David Guez; 8. Objects and space in an avian brain Giorgio Vallortigara and Cinzia Chiandetti; 9. Physical cognition and tool use in birds Alice Auersperg, Irmgard Teschke and Sabine Tebbich; 10. Avian numerical cognition: a review and brief comparisons to non-avian species Irene M. Pepperberg; 11. Mechanisms of perceptual categorization in birds Ludwig Huber and Ulrike Aust; 12. Relational concept learning in birds Leyre Castro and Edward A. Wasserman; 13. The linguistic abilities of birds Carel ten Cate; 14. Avian vocal perception: bioacoustics and perceptual mechanisms Neil McMillan, Marc T. Avey, Laurie L. Bloomfield, Lauren M. Guillette, Allison H. Hahn, Marisa Hoeschele and Christopher B. Sturdy; 15. Sing me something: does song signal cognition? Neeltje J. Boogert; 16. Avian social relations, social cognition and cooperation Thomas Bugnyar and Jorg J. M. Massen.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1933, this book is a culmination of a lifetime of research by Hans Friedrich Gadow into the evolution of the vertebrae. Gadow outlines the various forms of vertebral development as a guide to larger and more general questions on the morphological scheme of the evolution of vertebrate creatures.Table of ContentsEditor's preface; List of illustrations; Part I. General Morphology: 1. The axial skeleton; 2. Segmentation and resegmentation; 3. The composition of the standard vertebra; 4. The five ontogenetic and phylogenetic stages of the vertebral column; 5. Piiper's theory; 6. Chordacentra and arcocentra; 7. Further developments of the fundamental scheme; 8. The vertebral processes in the tetrapoda; 9. Articulation of the vertebrae; 10. Evolution of an occipital join; 11. The homologies of the atlas and second vertebra of the amphibia; 12. The nerve supply of the musculature of the tongue apparatus; 13. The first three vertebrae; 14. Ribs; Part II. Systemic Morphology: 15. A classification of tetrapoda; 16. Pseudocentrous type; 17. Autocentrous type; 18. Notocentrous type; 19. The relationship of amphibia and reptilia; 20. The most primitive reptiles; 21. Cotylosauri; 22. Chelonia; 23. Pelycosauri; 24. The therapsida or theriodontia; 25. Procolophonidae; 26. Mammalia; 27. The sacro-caudal region of the mammalia; 28. Primitive sauromorpha of uncertain affinities; 29. Geckonidae; 30. Lacertae; 31. The pythonomorpha and ophidia; 32. 'Squamata'; 33. The crocodilia and their permian and triassic forerunners; 34. Dinosauria and pterosauria; 35. Aves; 36. Ichthyosauria and sauropterygia; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisFor those engaged in research on Darwin or his circle, the Darwin Library is an invaluable resource. Originally donated by Darwin's son Francis to the library of the Botany School and now deposited in Cambridge University Library, it contains handwritten scribbles on book pages, note-filled scraps of paper pinned to back covers and personal inscriptions from mentors such as J. S. Henslow. First published in 1908, this catalogue to the Darwin Library collection, with an introduction by Francis Darwin, provides a gateway into Darwin's thought, research and intellectual context via his personal books and pamphlets. The book lists works in English and other languages, and contains bibliographic information, including the original publisher and date of publication, together with details of translations.Table of ContentsPreface; Introduction; Catalogue.

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Book SynopsisInitially published by the Linnean Society, this 1865 essay was Darwin's first foray into the study of climbing plants. He was inspired to produce this work by a paper on the tendrilled Cucurbitacean plant by American botanist Asa Gray, with whom he had a firm intellectual friendship. Darwin examines in detail those plants which climb using a twisting stem, such as the hop; leaf-climbers, such as the clematis; tendrilled plants such as the passion flower; and hook and root climbers such as ivy. The conclusions reached by his study are presented in terms of the adaptations of various species to their environments, a continuation of the theories that Darwin had propounded in his On the Origin of the Species six years earlier. His passion for the design of the plants and fascination with the diversity of their powers of movement are clear in this accessible example of the process of evolution.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Spirally Twining Plants; Part II. Leaf-climbers; Part III. Tendril-bearers; Part IV. Hook- and Root-climbers; Concluding remarks.

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Book SynopsisThe two-volume Zoonomia (1794–6) attempts to 'reduce the facts belonging to animal life into classes, orders, genera, and species; and by comparing them with each other, to unravel the theory of diseases' and marks a new stage in the development of the science of medicine.Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Of motion; 2. Explanations and definitions; 3. The motions of the retina demonstrated by experiments; 4. Laws of animal causation; 5. Of the four faculties of motions of the sensorium; 6. Of the four classes of fibrous motions; 7. Of irritative motions; 8. Of sensitive motions; 9. Of voluntary motions; 10. Of associate motions; 11. Additional observations on the sensorial powers; 12. Of stimulus, sensorial exertion, and fibrous contraction; 13. Of vegetable animation; 14. Of the production of ideas; 15. Of the classes of ideas; 16. Of instinct; 17. The catenation of animal motions; 18. Of sleep; 19. Of reverie; 20. Of vertigo; 21. Of drunkenness; 22. Of propensity to motion; 23. Of the circulatory system; 24. Of the secretion of saliva, and of tears; 25. Of the stomach and intestines; 26. Of the capillary glands, and of the membranes; 27. Of hæmorrhages; 28. The paralysis of the lacteals; 29. The retrograde motion of the absorbent vessels; 30. The paralysis of the liver; 31. Of temperaments; 32. Diseases of irritation; 33. Of sensation; 34. Of volition; 35. Of association; 36. The periods of diseases; 37. Of digestion, secretion, nutrition; 38. Of the oxygenation of the blood in the lungs and placenta; 39. Of generation; 40. Of ocular spectra.

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Book SynopsisThe Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication follows from the first chapters of On the Origin of Species. Volume 1 deals with variations introduced into species as a result of domestication. It is a masterpiece of nineteenth-century scientific investigation and a key text in the development of Darwin's evolutionary theories.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Domestic dogs and cats; 2. Horses and asses; 3. Pigs, cattle, sheep, goats; 4. Domestic rabbits; 5. Domestic pigeons; 6. Pigeons continued; 7. Fowls; 8. Ducks, goose, peacock, turkey, guinea-fowl, canary-bird, gold-fish, hive-bees, silk-moths; 9. Cultivated plants: cereal and culinary plants; 10. Plants continued: fruits, ornamental trees, flower; 11. On bud-variation, and on certain anomalous modes of reproduction and variation.

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Book SynopsisAlfred Russel Wallace (1823?1913) was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer and biologist, best remembered as the co-discoverer, with Darwin, of natural selection. His extensive fieldwork and advocacy of the theory of evolution led to him being considered one of the nineteenth century''s foremost biologists. He was later moved by a variety of personal experiences to examine the concept of spirituality, but his exploration into the potential for compatibility between spiritualism and natural selection alienated him from the scientific community. He was also a social activist, highly critical of unjust social and economic systems in nineteenth-century Britain, and one of the first prominent scientists to express concern over the environmental impact of human activity. This autobiography was first published in 1905. Volume 2 deals with his many eminent acquaintances, including Darwin and Huxley, his lecture tour in America, and his involvement with spiritualism and with social activism.Table of Contents25. My friends and acquaintances – Darwin; 26. My friends and acquaintances – Spencer, Huxley, Mivart, etc.; 27. My friends and acquaintances – Sir James Brooke, Professor Rolleston, Mr. Aug. Mongredien, Sir Richard Owen, Dr. Richard Spruce; 28. My friends and acquaintances – Dr. Purland, Mr. Samuel Butler, Professor Haughton; 29. Sketch of my life and work, 1871-1886; 30. An American lecture tour – Boston to Washington; 31. Lecturing tour in America – Washington to San Francisco; 32. Lecturing tour in America – California to Quebec; 33. Literary work, etc., 1887-1905; 34. Land nationalization to socialism, and the friends they brought me; 35. Mesmerism to Spiritualism – correspondence with scientific and literary men; 36. Two biological inquirers: an episode in the history of Spiritualism; 37. Spiritualistic experiences in England and America; 38. The anti-vaccination crusade; 39. A chapter on money matters – earnings and losses – speculations and law-suits; 40. My character – new ideas – predictions fulfilled; Addendum; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book sets out an original perspective on the argument for one of the most important theories in the history of science: Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection. The book will appeal to students, scholars and scientists interested in Darwin's On the Origin of Species.Trade Review'Darwin's comparison between natural and artificial selection is not 'just a metaphor.' It exemplifies a figure of argumentation that goes back to ancient Greek mathematics: proportional analogy. The implications of this fact, spelled out by the distinguished co-authors of Darwin's Argument by Analogy, are sure to change Darwin studies, both historical and philosophical, for good.' David J. Depew, University of Iowa'… an event in Darwin scholarship …' David Depew, Metascience'This original, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book examines one of the most debated arguments in the history of biology … the book is an exemplary work of history and philosophy of science.' S. Andrew Inkpen, Metascience'… best explains Darwin's overall argument strategy in the Origin, but they also contend that it provides insight into 'the broader historiographical, philosophical, and socio-economic themes and issues' associated with Darwin and his research.' Andrea Sullivan-Clarke, MetascienceTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Analogy in classical Greece; 2. Analogy in the background to the Origin; 3. Darwin's analogical theorising before the Origin; 4. The 'one long argument' of the Origin; 5. An analysis of Darwin's argument by analogy; 6. Darwin's use of metaphor in the Origin; 7. Rebuttals of the revisionists; 8. Wider issues concerning Darwinian science.

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Book SynopsisEvolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms is an exploration of laboratory and field research on the many ways that evolution has influenced learning and memory processes, such as associative learning, social learning, and spatial, working, and episodic memory systems. This volume features research by both outstanding early-career scientists as well as familiar luminaries in the field. Learning and memory in a broad range of animals are explored, including numerous species of invertebrates (insects, worms, sea hares), as well as fish, amphibians, birds, rodents, bears, and human and nonhuman primates. Contributors discuss how the behavioral, cognitive, and neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory have been influenced by evolutionary pressures. They also draw connections between learning and memory and the specific selective factors that shaped their evolution. Evolution of Learning and Memory Mechanisms should be a valuable resource for those working in the areas of experimentTable of ContentsIntroduction to evolution of learning and memory mechanisms Mark A. Krause, Karen L. Hollis, and Mauricio R. Papini; Part I. Evolution of Learning Processes: 1. Thrive on Simplicity: An Ethological recount of learning and memory in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans Alex Yu and Catharine Rankin; 2. Adaptive evolution of learning and memory in a model lineage William G. Wright; 3. Learning in insects: Possibilities and perspectives Alexis L. Kriete and Karen L. Hollis; 4. Experimental evolution and prepared learning Aimee Dunlap and Andreia Dexheimer; 5. Evolutionary processes shaping learning ability in insects Maartje Liefting; 6. Brain and spatial cognition in amphibians: Stem adaptations in the evolution of tetrapod cognition Rubén Muzio and Vern Bingman; 7. Pavlovian conditioning, survival and reproductive success Mark A. Krause and Michael Domjan; 8. Evolution and learning of trap avoidance by invasive birds: Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence Andrea Griffin and Marie Diquelou; 9. Relational memory functions of the hippocampal pallium in teleost fish Antonia Gómez, Francisco M. Ocaña, Tamara del Águila, Fernando Rodríguez and Cosme Salas; 10. Mechanisms underlying absolute and relative reward value in vertebrates Mauricio R. Papini; 11. Suboptimal choice: A psycho-evolutionary perspective Patrick Anselme; 12. A behavior systems approach: What it is and how to use it Francisco Silva and Kathleen Silva; 13. Dissociable learning processes: A comparative perspective Barbara A. Church, Brooke N. Jackson and J. David Smith; 14. Social learning strategies Rachel Kendal; 15. How learning affects evolution Kevin Laland, Thomas Oudman and Wataru Toyokawa; Part II. Evolution of Memory Processes: 16. The evolution of memory as an immediate perceptual identification mechanism Michael Fanselow; 17. Episodic memory in animals Jonathon Crystal; 18. A hierarchical framework for quantifying complex cognition Alexandra Schnell and Nicola Clayton; 19. Evolution of memory systems Johan Lind, Magnus Enquist and Stefano Ghirlanda; 20. What laboratory and field approaches bring to bear for understanding the evolution of ursid cognition Jennifer Vonk; 21. Distinguishing mechanisms of behavioral inhibition and self-control Michael Beran and Audrey E. Parrish; 22. Metamemory and control of memory in primates Robert Hampton; 23. Adaptive memory: The mnemonic value of fitness-relevant processing James Nairne and Michelle E. Coverdale; 24. Remembering cheaters: The influence of social relevance on source memory Meike Kroneisen; 25. Evolution of memory circuits under epigenetic regulation Ji-Song Guan; 26. Constraints on learning and memory: A resolution Aaron Blaisdell and Ben Seitz; Index.

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Book SynopsisRecent arguments concerning the nature of causation in evolutionary theory, now often known as the debate between the ''causalist'' and ''statisticalist'' positions, have involved answers to a variety of independent questions definitions of key evolutionary concepts like natural selection, fitness, and genetic drift; causation in multi-level systems; or the nature of evolutionary explanations, among others. This Element offers a way to disentangle one set of these questions surrounding the causal structure of natural selection. Doing so allows us to clearly reconstruct the approach that some of these major competing interpretations of evolutionary theory have to this causal structure, highlighting particular features of philosophical interest within each. Further, those features concern problems not exclusive to the philosophy of biology. Connections between them and, in two case studies, contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of physics demonstrate the potential value of broader collaboration in the understanding of evolution.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The Contemporary Debate over Causation in Natural Selection; 2. Diagramming Evolving Systems; 3. New Perspectives on Causalism; 4. Moving the Debate Forward: Two Proposals; 5. Conclusion; References.

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Book SynopsisThis Element concerns itself with a particular aspect of the problem posed to monotheistic religious thought by suffering, namely the suffering of non-human creatures in nature. It makes some comparisons between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and then explores the problem in depth within Christian thought.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Monotheism and suffering; 2. Clarifying the problem; 3. Applying approaches to the problem of evil to animal suffering; 4. Theodical moves in the Christian tradition, and the challenge of Darwinism; 5. Fall-event-based theodicies; 6. Process theodicy and free-process arguments; 7. Only-way arguments; 8. Self-emptying and cruciform creation; 9. Questions of providence and divine co-suffering; 10. Forms of redemption and immortality for non-human creatures; 11. Combining strategies; 12. Speculative proposal I – influenced by Plato's Timaeus; 13. Speculative proposal II – creaturely resistance and angelic rebellion; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe great apes - gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans - are our closest relatives, with whom we share most of our DNA. This title takes readers on a journey from isolated jungles to misty mountain forests, exploring the lives of the great apes, revealing differences between and within species.Trade Review"A fantastic book that's also a really emotional ride. Anyone who cares about animals will benefit hugely from reading it." -Shaun Ellis, star of Animal Planet's Living With the Wolfman and author of The Man Who Lives With Wolves -- Shaun Ellis, star of Animal Planet's LIVING WITH THE WOLFMAN and author of THE MAN WHO LIVES WITH WOLVES. Praise for AMONG THE CANNIBALS: "Simply fascinating... Raffaele's book is worth devouring." -- Associated Press "Swashbuckling... A dark thrill ride to the extremes of behavior ... reaches beyond adventure anthropology and achieves a tone of urgent humanity." -- Kirkus Reviews "[A] modern, non-fiction version of Conan Doyle's The Lost World: a time-warp glimpse into man's most primordial nightmare; exciting, fantastic, horrific-and a very well-written travel narrative." -- Peter Nichols, author of A VOYAGE FOR MADMEN

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Book Synopsis"Theway Brockman interlaces essays about research on the frontiers of science withones on artistic vision, education, psychology and economics is sure to buzzany brain."

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The Social Leap is a rollicking tour through humanity’s evolutionary past, and William von Hippel is the consummate tour guide. With equal parts wisdom, humor, authority, and charm, von Hippel shows how our past explains the present and why our well-being rests on an understanding of how our minds evolved.” — Adam Alter, New York Times bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink and Irresistible “Forget gold toilets and private jets. The key to happiness may just lie in a cheeseburger—or a sandbox. Full of insight into human character, von Hippel’s book provides a stimulating program for measuring success without material yardsticks.” — Kirkus Reviews “The Social Leap is one of the best books I have read in years. Its examination of the evolutionary roots of modern human behavior is both profound and revelatory. Seamlessly weaving captivating stories, rich science, and beautiful prose, von Hippel offers an unparalleled glimpse into the lives of our ancestors and, thereby, into our selves.” — Sonja Lyubomirsky, New York Times bestselling author of The How of Happiness “The Social Leap is a rollicking tour through humanity’s evolutionary past, and William von Hippel is the consummate tour guide. With equal parts wisdom, humor, authority, and charm, von Hippel shows how our past explains the present and why our well-being rests on an understanding of how our minds evolved.” — Roy Baumeister, New York Times bestselling author of Willpower “This book is for everybody. Everybody, that is, who has a shred of curiosity about how we came to become human. von Hippel’s panoramic view prompts us to ask ourselves: what do we wish to do with the miracle that we are now here?” — Mahzarin R. Banaji, Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Department of Psychology, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLERThis second volume of Sapiens: A Graphic History, the full-color graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari?s #1 New York Times bestseller, focuses on the Agricultural Revolution?when humans fell into a trap we?ve yet to escape: working harder and harder with diminishing returns.What if humanity?s major woes?war, plague, famine and inequality?originated 12,000 years ago, when Homo sapiens converted from nomads to settlers, in pursuit of the fantasy of productivity and efficiency? What if by seeking to control plants and animals, humans ended up being controlled by kings, priests, and Kafkaesque bureaucracy? Volume 2 of Sapiens: A Graphic History?The Pillars of Civilization explores a crucial chapter in human development: the Agricultural Revolution. This is the story of how wheat took over the world; how an unlikely marriage between a god and a bureaucrat created the first empires; and how war, plague, famine, and inequality became an intractable feature of the human condition.But it?s not all doom and gloom with this book?s cast of entertaining characters and colorful humorous scenes. Yuval, Zoe, Prof. Saraswati, Cindy and Bill (now farmers), Detective Lopez, and Dr. Fiction, all introduced in Volume 1, once again travel the length and breadth of human history, this time investigating the impact the Agricultural Revolution has had on our species. The cunning Mephisto shows them how to ensnare humans, King Hammurabi lays down the law, and Confucius explains harmonious society. The origins of modern farming are introduced through Elizabethan tragedy; the changing fortunes of domesticated plants and animals are tracked in the columns of the Daily Business News; the story of urbanization is portrayed as a travel brochure, offering discount journeys to ancient Babylon and China; and the history of inequality unfolds in a superhero detective story; with guest appearances by historical and cultural personalities throughout such as Thomas Jefferson, Scarlett O''Hara, Margaret Thatcher, and John Lennon.Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 2 is a radical, witty and colorful retelling of the story of humankind for adults and young adults, and can be read on its own or in sequence with Volume I.

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Book Synopsis“A bizarre collection of evolution tales . . . the weirder, the better.” —Entertainment WeeklyA fascinating exploration of the awe-inspiring, unsettling ingenuity of evolution from Wired writer Matt Simon, author of Plight of the Living Dead (coming soon from Penguin Books)On a barren seafloor, the pearlfish swims into the safety of a sea cucumber’s anus. To find a meal, the female bolas spider releases pheromones that mimic a female moth, luring male moths into her sticky lasso web. The Glyptapanteles wasp injects a caterpillar with her young, which feed on the victim, erupt out of it, then mind-control the poor (and somehow still living) schmuck into protecting them from predators.These are among the curious critters of The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar, a jaunt through evolution’s most unbelievable, most ingenious solutions to the problems of everydaTrade ReviewWinner of the American Library Association’s Alex Award“A veritable parade of eccentric animal profiles that make you laugh so hard you won’t even realize you’re learning a thing or two about niche distribution and adaptive camouflage.”—Wired (“Required Science Reading from 2016”)“A bizarre collection of evolution tales . . . the weirder, the better.”—Entertainment Weekly“A quick, fun read that’s . . . heavy on snark. . . . The book is packed full of fascinating facts that will both impress and creep out.”—Science News“An entertaining look at evolution’s frightening billion-year arms race. . . . Simon’s wit, combined with the geniune eccentricity of his subjects, make this a fun and accessible book.”—Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA blueprint for a better future that offers a unified theory of human behavior, culture, and society.Playing on the phrase “a theory of everything” from physics, Michael Muthukrishna’s ambitious, original, and deeply hopeful book A Theory of Everyone draws on the most recent research from across the sciences, humanities, and the emerging field of cultural evolution to paint a panoramic picture of who we are and what exactly makes human beings different from all other forms of life on the planet. Muthukrishna argues that it is our unique ability to create culture, a shared body of knowledge, skills, and experience passed on from generation to generation, that has enabled our current dominance. But it is only by understanding and applying the laws of life—the need for energy, innovation, cooperation, and evolution—that we can solve the practical and existential challenges we face as a species. A Theory of Everyone

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Book SynopsisWhy our human brains are awesome, and how we left our cousins, the great apes, behind: a tale of neurons and calories, and cooking.Humans are awesome. Our brains are gigantic, seven times larger than they should be for the size of our bodies. The human brain uses 25% of all the energy the body requires each day. And it became enormous in a very short amount of time in evolution, allowing us to leave our cousins, the great apes, behind. So the human brain is special, right? Wrong, according to Suzana Herculano-Houzel. Humans have developed cognitive abilities that outstrip those of all other animals, but not because we are evolutionary outliers. The human brain was not singled out to become amazing in its own exclusive way, and it never stopped being a primate brain. If we are not an exception to the rules of evolution, then what is the source of the human advantage?Herculano-Houzel shows that it is not the size of our brain that matters but the fact that we have more n

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Book SynopsisImagining a future in which humans fundamentally reshape the natural world using nanotechnology, synthetic biology, de-extinction, and climate engineering.We have all heard that there are no longer any places left on Earth untouched by humans. The significance of this goes beyond statistics documenting melting glaciers and shrinking species counts. It signals a new geological epoch. In The Synthetic Age, Christopher Preston argues that what is most startling about this coming epoch is not only how much impact humans have had but, more important, how much deliberate shaping they will start to do. Emerging technologies promise to give us the power to take over some of Nature's most basic operations. It is not just that we are exiting the Holocene and entering the Anthropocene; it is that we are leaving behind the time in which planetary change is just the unintended consequence of unbridled industrialism. A world designed by engineers and technicians means the birth of the plan

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Book SynopsisOn his popular science blog, Pharyngula, PZ Myers has entertained millions of readers with his infectious love of evolutionary science and his equally infectious disdain for creationism, biblical literalism, intelligent design theory, and other products of godly illogic. This funny and fearless book collects and expands on some of his most popular writings, giving the religious fanaticism of our times the gleeful disrespect it deserves by skewering the apocalyptic fantasies, magical thinking, hypocrisies, and pseudoscientific theories advanced by religious fundamentalists of all stripes. Forceful and articulate, scathing and funny, The Happy Atheist is a reaffirmation of the revelatory power of humor and the truth-revealing powers of science and reason.

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Book Synopsis“An exceptional book” (Helen Fisher) by a leading evolutionary psychologist and sex researcher that lays out a new theory of sexual conflict, exposing the roots of the dangerous dynamics that underpin men’s predatory behavior — and what can be done to address it.Sexual conflict permeates ancient religions, from injunctions about thy neighbor's wife to the permissible rape of infidels. It is etched in written laws that dictate who can and cannot have sex with whom. Its manifestations shape our sexual morality, evoking approving accolades or contemptuous condemnation. It produces sexual double standards that flourish even in the most sexually egalitarian cultures on earth. And although every person alive struggles with sexual conflict, most of us see only the tip of the iceberg: dating deception, a politician's unsavory sexual grab, the slow crumbling of a once-happy marriage, a romantic breakup that turns nasty.

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Book SynopsisIntroduction by Edward J. Larson   Perhaps the most readable and accessible of the great works of scientific inquiry, The Origin of Species sold out its first printing on the very day it was published in 1859. Theologians quickly labeled Charles Darwin the most dangerous man in England and, as the Saturday Review noted, the uproar over the book quickly “passed beyond the bounds of the study and lecture-room into the drawing-room and the public street.” Based largely on Darwin’s experience as a naturalist while on a five-year voyage aboard H. M. S. Beagle, The Origin of Species set forth a theory of evolution and natural selection that challenged contemporary beliefs about divine providence and the immutability of species. This Modern Library edition includes a Foreword by the Pulitzer Prize–winning science historian Edward J. Larson, an introductory historical sketch, and a glossary Darwin later added to th

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Book Synopsis“Does an excellent job of using evolutionary biology to discuss the origins of religion, music, art, and . . . morality.”—Publishers Weekly, starred reviewTrade Review"Starred review. Readers of diverse perspectives will recognize [Pagel’s] timely wisdom." -- Booklist"Gorgeously written, elegantly argued, Pagel demonstrates that genes are only a small part of the human success story; minds and culture are the larger part. A compelling read that allows us to appreciate everything around us with fresh eyes." -- David Eagleman, author of Tales of the Afterlives and Incognito"An intriguing combination of information...with an optimistic prediction of a future global society in which inventiveness and cooperation prevail." -- Kirkus Reviews"Starred review. Pagel does an excellent job of using evolutionary biology to discuss the origins of religion, music, and art, and the reason why, cross-culturally, we generally share a sense of morality." -- Publishers Weekly"This richly rewarding work of science explains the evolutionary significance of living in a collaborative culture. Human evolution may be the hottest area in popular science writing, ahead even of books about cosmology and the brain. Within this crowded field, Mark Pagel’s Wired for Culture stands out for both its sweeping erudition and its accessibility to the non-specialist reader." -- Clive Clarkson - Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThe best Darwin anthology on the market (Stephen Jay Gould, Harvard) has just become better, in this newly revised version of the now classic Norton Critical Edition, first published in 1970.Table of ContentsThe best Darwin anthology on the market (Stephen Jay Gould, Harvard) has just become better, in this newly revised version of the now classic Norton Critical Edition, first published in 1970. The impact of Charles Darwin’s work on Western civilization has been broad and deep. As much as anyone in the modern era, he changed human thought, and his influence is still felt in virtually all aspects of our lives. This new edition, larger and more varied than the previous ones, includes more of Darwin's own work and also presents the most recent research and scholarship on all aspects of Darwin’s legacy. The biological sciences, as well as social thought, philosophy, ethics, religion, and literature, have all been shaped and reshaped by evolutionary concepts Excerpts from the most important books and articles of recent years confirm this Darwinian heritage. New work by Richard Dawkins, Edward O. Wilson, Kevin Padian, Eugene C. Scott, Steven Pinker, Daniel Dennett, Michael Ruse, Frans de Waal, Noretta Koertge, George C. Williams, George Levine, Stephen Jay Gould, Gillian Beer, Ernst Mayr, and many others illuminates this exciting intellectual history. A wide-ranging new introduction by the editor provides context and coherence to this rich body of engaging material, much of which will be shaping human thought well into the new century. This edition will be useful to scientists and historians alike: The Norton Darwin explains Darwinian evolution and illustrates the social and intellectual conflicts of the past two centuries better than any other book that I am aware of. (Charles Taylor, Professor of Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, University of California, Los Angeles) And it will be of great value to the humanities and social sciences as well: The edition provides the sharpest and most exciting access to Darwin we have ever had. It shows all of us interested in the heart of our intellectual heritage how that heritage is sustained, manipulated, and honored. (James R. Kincaid, Aerol Arnold Professor of English, University of Southern California) A Selected Bibliography and an Index are included.

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Book SynopsisProfessor Luke O’Neill, one of the leading voices of authority during the Covid 19 Pandemic, grapples with life’s biggest questions and tells us what science has to say about them. From gender to pandemics, a fascinating and thought-provoking addition to current popular debates.

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Book SynopsisThe life's work of one of the most knowledgeable researchers in the field, this richly illustrated, magisterial book combines sound scientific principles and meticulous research and belongs on the shelf of every paleontologist and mammalogist.Trade ReviewThis beautiful and thorough book will be an essential tool for all those who work on fossil and extant mammals, and for both advanced undergraduate and graduate students. It is a 'must buy' for palaeontological libraries. -- Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska Nature 2007 This volume will be extremely valuable, particularly for mammalogists used to dealing only with the time slice of the Recent... Highly recommended. Choice 2007 The first comprehensive synthesis of mammal evolution in more than 20 years. It is arguably the most significant contribution to the field since George Simpson's classic work Principles of Classification and a Classification of Mammals. -- Amy Chew Quarterly Review of Biology 2007 Will almost certainly become a heavily used reference and mainstay in the classroom for students and teachers of mammalian evolution... Deserving of accolades as a particularly noteworthy achievement. -- Christopher C. Gilbert Evolutionary Anthropology 2007 Remarkable book. -- Peter Langer Mammalian Biology 2008 Authoritative, up-to-date, and full of references to corroborate synthetic overviews of major events in mammalian evolution. Ken Rose does his profession a service by providing a compact analysis of the history of the diverse Class Mammalia through the end of the Eocene Epoch and beyond. -- Lawrence J. Flynn Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 2009 A must reference for all mammalian and aspiring mammalian paleontologists. -- J.D. Archibald Journal of Mammalian Evolution 2009Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. IntroductionThe Early Cenozoic Mammalian RadiationTiming of the Crown-Therian RadiationMammalian Phylogeny, Interrelationships, and ClassificationGeochronology and Biochronology of the Early CenozoicPaleogeographic Setting during the Beginning of the Age of MammalsPaleocene-eocene Climate and FloraOrganization of the Volume2. Mammalian Skeletal Structure and AdaptationsSkullDentitionPostcranial SkeletonSkeletal Adaptations3. The Origin of MammalsWhat is a Mammal?The Evolutionary Transition to Mammals4. Synopsis of Mesozoic Mammal EvolutionHistorical BackgroundThe Oldest MammalsDocodontaMultituberculataEutriconodontaSymmetrodontsEupantotheresTribosphenic MammalsMesozoic Mammals of Uncertain Affinity5. Metatheria: Marsupials and Their RelativesBasal MetatheriansPrimitive Marsupials6. Earliest Eutherian Mammals7. CimolestaDidelphodonta and Other Primitive CimolestaDidymoconidaePantolestaApatotheriaTaeniodontaTillodontiaPantodonta8. Creodonta and CarnivoraCreodontaCarnivora9. InsectivoraLeptictidaLipotyphla10. Archonta: Bats, Dermopterans, Primates, and Tree ShrewsChiropteraDermopteraPrimates and PlesiadapiformesScandentia11. "Edentates": Xenarthra and PholidotaXenarthraPholidota12. Archaic UngulatesOldest Ungulate RelativesCondylarthra: Archaic UngulatesArctostylopidaMeridiungulata: Endemic South American UngulatesDinocerata13. Altungulata: Perissodactyls, Hyraxes, and TethytheresPerissodactylaPaenungulata14. Cete and ArtiodactylaCete and CetaceaArtiodactyla15. Anagalida: Rodents, Lagomorphs, and Their RelativesPrimitive Asian Anagalidans and Possible AnagalidansMacroscelideaGlires16. Reflections and Speculations on the Beginning of the Age of MammalsEarly Cenozoic Mammal RecordSynopsis of Paleocene and Eocene MammalsA Final NoteLiterature CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisThis small gem of a book includes 20 color plates and 60 black-and-white illustrations, along with an annotated list of Darwin's publications and a chronology of his life.Trade ReviewThe ensemble of text and illustrations will render an indelible image of Darwin for those beginning to study him, and evolution, while a brief bibliography points the way to further exploration. Booklist 2008 This succinct biography spans Darwin's life in 15 brief chapters and reads like a museum guide, hitting the high points in an easily assimilated style. The copious illustrations, though, including reproductions of period paintings, title page facsimiles, and many of the author's own photographs, are worth poring over and may hold readers' attention longer than it takes to peruse the text. Patrons who want a quick, no-frills but still authoritative read on Darwin's life couldn't find a better source. Library Journal 2008 A splendid overview derived from a series of lectures, and beautifully illustrated, with a detailed publishing history of all of Darwin's works. -- Nicholas Basbanes finebooksmagazine.com 2009 Charles Darwin: The Concise Story of an Extraordinary Man is the best brief biography on the market. Northern Territory News 2009 Berra moves quickly through the life, yet finds time to include telling details, as well as sketches of appealing secondary characters. -- David Lumsden Australian Book Review 2009 Berra, a retired professor of evolution who gives popular lectures on Darwin, writes leanly and to the point, but still produces a vivid and detailed portrait. -- Scott LaFee San Diego Union-Tribune 2009 This work will be useful for introductory students and the general public... Recommended. All undergraduate and public libraries. Choice 2009 This jewel box of a book offers an imminently readable tour of the great man. Every spread includes illustrations with fascinating captions. -- Jeffrey Cyphers Wright Brooklyn Rail 2009 Berra has done masterful work, providing a lively and succinct account of Darwin's life that will provide an excellent introduction for the new reader who is interested in Darwin as well as a helpful review for knowledgeable Darwin enthusiasts! -- Charles F. Urbanowicz Reports of the National Center for Science Education 2010Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction1. An Admirable Pedigree2. A Privileged Youth3. Exploration4. Discovery5. Maturity6. A Proposal7. Life at Down House8. Correspondence9. Daily Routine10. Taxonomy and Selection11. Alfred Russel Wallace and The Origin12. What Darwin Said13. Darwin's Bulldog14. A Man of Enlarged Curiosity15. Darwin's Death16. EpilogueAppendixesA. BooksB. ChronologyC. Darwin OnlineD. DatesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisAccessibly written and featuring full-color photographs and illustrations throughout, The Rise of Horses is the complete chronicle of the evolution of the equids.Trade ReviewOverall, a useful popular book for the intended audience. Choice 2010 Goff combines teaching and research to create a novel way of looking at athletics. Choice 2010 A comprehensive account, with full-coloured photographs and clear drawings that are very useful for teachers and students. -- Evelyne Bremond-Hoslet & Christian Denys Mammalia 2011Table of ContentsPreface to the English Edition1. Prologue2. Introduction3. The Depths of Time4. Europe in the Eocene5. The Dawn Horses of the Morning Cloud6. Constructions and Functions7. Discovering Horse Evolution8. Evolution and Expansion of the Horses9. Pseudo Horses and Relatives of Horses10. The Ice Age and the Roots of Modern Horses11. ConclusionExhibits on the Evolution of HorsesFurther ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisRichly illustrated and featuring the latest information on scimitar-tooth cats of the New World, The Other Saber-tooths is an engaging and comprehensive collection of information about these fascinating felines that will appeal to paleontologists and anyone else interested in the prehistoric world.Trade ReviewBeautifully illustrated... and featuring the latest information on scimitar-tooth cats of the New World, The Other Saber-tooths is an interesting and comprehensive collection of information about these fascinating felines that will appeal to paleontologists and everyone else interested in the prehistoric world. -- Mike Fredericks Prehistoric Times This pairs fine drawings with the latest information in a college-level collection suitable for any paleontological collection. Midwest Book Review A valuable contribution to the study of paleontology and comparative anatomy and an important addition to the literature on saber-toothed cats. Highly recommended. Choice A very interesting read for those who are even remotely interested in the saber-tooth cats of North America... shows attention to both detail and quality of work. -- Cynthia D. Crane-Muston Priscum Succeeds in its aspirations and will become a must-have for professional and avocational paleontologists alike. -- Xiaoming Wang Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology A must-read for all saber-tooth researchers and educated readers interested in these awe-inspiring predators. -- Francois Therrien Quarterly Review of Biology The Other Saber-tooths is, without a doubt, the authoritative work on homotheriins in North America... [It] will be an invaluable tool for researchers interested in ecological, phylogenetic, and related questions regarding the paleobiology of the machairodontine felids. As such, this book is indispensable for anyone with an interest in fossil carnivorans, and would make a valuable addition to the library of anyone studying Cenozoic mammals. -- John D. Orcutt Journal of Mammalian EvolutionTable of ContentsList of ContributorsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Experimental Paleontology of the Scimitar-tooth and Dirk-tooth Killing BitesChapter 3. Pathology in Saber-tooth CatsChapter 4. The Osteology of a Cookie-cutter Cat, Xenomilus hodsonaeChapter 5. The Musculature of Xenosmilus, and the Reconstruction of Its AppearanceChapter 6. Osteology and Myology of Homotherium ischyrus from IdahoChapter 7. Revision of the New World HomotheiiniChapter 8. A Saber-tooth Cat Skull from Tajikistanm Central Asia, and the Relationships between Eurasian and North American HomotheresChapter 9. A Frameworth for the North American HomotheriiniAppendix AAppendix BGlossaryLiterature CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisHis book is a must-read for paleontologists, mammalogists, and anthropologists.Trade ReviewA pick for any college-level collection strong in natural history. Midwest Book Review 2011 In this wonderful volume, anthropologist-paleontologist Ungar provides the most complete source available (or imaginable) on the subject... Highly recommended. Choice 2011Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionEndothermyFood Energy and TeethA Very Brief History of the Study of Mammal TeethOrganization of This BookPart I: Key Terms and Concepts1. Tooth Structure and FormBasic Tooth StructureTooth TypesDeciduous and Permanent TeethDental Formulas, Tooth Notations, and Direction TermsNomenclature for Features on the Occlusal SurfaceCategories of Cheek Teeth2. Dental Histology and DevelopmentFracture Mechanics and Tooth DesignDental HistologyDental DevelopmentGenetics of Dental Development and Occlusal Morphology3. Food and FeedingNutrient RequirementsEnergy Flow and Food SelectionDiet CategoriesPhysical Properties of FoodsFinal Thoughts4. Food Acquisition and ProcessingFood AcquisitionFood ProcessingFinal Thoughts5. Classification of the MammalsSome Basic Terms and ConceptsA Very Brief History of Classification of the MammalsClassification Used in This BookTaxonomy, Systematics, and TeethPart II: The Evolution of Mammal Teeth6. Teeth before the MammalsThe Origin(s) of TeethThe Early Evolution of TeethFinal Thoughts7. The Origin of Mammalian MasticationThe Early Evolution of the SynapsidsKey Adaptations for Mammalian MasticationFinal Thoughts8. The Fossil Record for Mesozoic MammalsThe Evolution of Mesozoic MammalsThe Evolution of Molar Form in Mesozoic MammalsThe Cretaceous/Paleogene Extinctions9. Cenozoic Mammalian EvolutionFossil MonotremesFossil MarsupialsFossil PlacentalsCenozoic Mammalian RadiationsFinal ThoughtsPart III: The Teeth of Recent Mammals10. Monotremata and MarsupialiaProtheriaMonotremataMarsupialiaDidelphimorphiaPaucituberculataMicrobiotheriaNotoryctemorphiaPeramelemorphiaDasyuromorphiaDiprotodontiaFinal Thoughts11. Xenarthra and AfrotheriaXenarthraCingulataPilosaAfrotheriaAfrosoricidaMacroscelideaTubulidentataHyracoideaProboscideaSireniaFinal Thoughts12. LaurasiatheriaCetartiodactylaPerissodactylaChiropteraCarnivoraPholidotaEulipotyphlaFinal Thoughts13. EuarchontogliresScandentiaDermopteraPrimatesLagomorphaRodentiaFinal ThoughtsConclusionsAdaptive Radiation of the MammalsHow Do Teeth Work?Where Did Teeth Come From, and How Did They Evolve?Dental Diversity Today and What We Can Learn from ItFinal ThoughtsAppendixLiterature CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisThis reprint of Bernard Wood's best-selling 2-volume encyclopedia is now available as a single-volume paperback. It is ideal for grad students and individual researchers wanting to purchase their own desk copy of this comprehensive work.Trade ReviewReviews from the Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution, 2 Volume Set: “This two volume hardbound set aims to provide a fairly comprehensive reference work to the fascinating area of human evolution; or as the book terms it “an authoritative and accessible source of information about the hominin clade of the tree of life.” (Reference Reviews, 2012) Editor Bernard Wood and a veritable “who’s who” of scholars have produced a volume (in fact two) that is unquestionably the most authoritative and thorough compilation of information regarding human evolutionary studies ever packaged between two (actually four) hardcovers. Often such encyclopedic undertakings end up resembling a soup dish – broad and shallow. Not so the Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. It is destined to become the true tureen (broad and deep) of this genre for years to come. This compilation is a stunning editorial achievement and should find a place on the book shelf of any serious student of paleoanthropology - at ~ 900 pages, it is guaranteed to fill, both literally and figuratively, the gap in any personal or academic library. "This is both an enjoyable and a truly useful book. If you're rolling in money, go and get it; if not, check it out from the library fast. It'll be an old friend before you know it." (Evolutionary Anthropology, 2012) "In addition to being an excellent resource for one's own research, Wood's encyclopedia is indispensable for preparing lectures at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. It provides comprehensive treatments of topics that one should remember (but inevitably does not) from their own graduate training. The paleoanthropological perspective and focus on each topic is very useful and difficult to find anywhere else". (UCL Anthropology, 2012) "The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia's overall comprehensiveness is assured not only by the very ecumenical view of paleoanthropology's scope that is so amply reflected in the volumes' diverse coverage, but by the division of the extensive subject-matter into a huge number of snappy bite-sized pieces." (Elsevier, 2 January 2012) "As Senior Editor, Professor Wood has assembled a resource of great value to a wide audience across the disciplines. Nowhere else is there a complete inventory of fossils by site of discovery! Francisco Ayala's graceful introductory essay is followed by a list of topics that gives a unique overview of the riches beyond in the full entries. The level of detail is superb, but not overwhelming. About 2500 references." (Professor Caleb E. Finch, University of Southern California, 2011) "The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution is to date the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information on the topic. It is top-level science made appealing to professonals and non-professionals alike. Its cleverly structured cross-indexed entries make it an irreplaceable book for anyone interested in Paleoanthropology, an absolute must..." (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 2011) "Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Human Evolution is the most comprehensive and authoritative compilation of information pertaining to the origin of humans that currently exists. Most importantly these volumes are accessible and "user friendly" to the amateur as well as the most sophisticated specialist. I refer to these volume regularly." (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 2011) "Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers." (Choice, 1 October 2011)Table of ContentsContributors vii Editor Executive Editor Assistant Executive Editor Senior Editorial Assistant Editorial Assistant Associate Editors Advisory Editors Section and Topic Editors Contributors Foreword by Francisco J. Ayala xi Preface xviii Acknowledgments xxi Topic Entry List xxiii List of Abbreviations lxxvii A–Z 1 References i

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Book SynopsisProvides a broad snapshot of recent findings showing how the environment and genes influence behavior The great debate of nature versus nurture rages on but our understanding of the genetic basis of many behaviors has expanded over the last decade, and there is now very good evidence showing that seemingly complex behaviours can have relatively simple genetic underpinnings, but also that most behaviours have very complicated genetic and environmental architecture. Studies have also clearly shown that behaviors, and other traits, are influenced not just by genes and the environment, but also by the statistical interaction between the two. This book aims to end the nature versus nurture argument by showing that behaviors are nature and nurture and the interaction between the two, and by illustrating how single genes can explain some of the variation in behaviors even when they are seemingly complex. Genes and Behaviour: Beyond Nature-Nurture puts to rest tTable of ContentsList of Contributors xiii Preface xv 1 Nature, Nurture, and Nature-by-Nurture – Killing the Dichotomy 1David J. Hosken, John Hunt and Nina Wedell Acknowledgements 7 References 7 2 Ultimate (Re)Thinking for Behavioural Biology 11Sasha R. X. Dall, John M. McNamara and Alastair J. Wilson 2.1 Evolutionary Reasoning in Modern Behavioural Biology 13 2.2 A Quantitative Genetic View of Behavioural Evolution 15 2.3 Short-Term Ultimate Reasoning: Behavioural Genetics in a Functional Context 20 2.4 Concluding Remarks 21 References 22 3 How the Dual Inheritance of Genes and Culture Shapes Behaviour: A Critical Review with a Focus on Human Culture and Behavioural Diversity 27Thomas E. Currie 3.1 Culture and Behaviour 27 3.2 Cultural Evolution 30 3.2.1 Processes of Cultural Evolution 31 3.2.1.1 Variation 31 3.2.1.2 Inheritance 32 3.2.1.3 Selection and Fitness 34 3.3 Insights from Cultural Evolutionary Approaches 37 3.3.1 Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviour 37 3.4 Cultural History 39 3.5 Culture and the Evolution of Co-operation 42 3.6 Gene–Culture Coevolution 45 3.7 Conclusion 48 Acknowledgements 50 References 50 4 Beyond Genes and Environments: Indirect Genetic Effects and the Evolution of Behaviour 61John Hunt, James Rapkin, Clarissa M. House and Alastair J. Wilson 4.1 A Quantitative Genetic View of Behavioural Evolution without IGEs 63 4.2 Adding IGEs to the Traditional Theory 66 4.2.1 'Trait-Based' and 'Variance Partitioning' Models of IGEs 67 4.3 From Theory Towards Empiricism 68 4.3.1 Using Trait-Based Models 69 4.3.2 Using Variance Partitioning Models 71 4.3.3 Is Knowledge of the Interactor Trait Critical to Your Study? 72 4.4 Empirical Evidence for IGEs on Behavioural Traits 73 4.4.1 Social Plasticity of Behaviour is Widespread 73 4.4.2 Does Social Plasticity Generate IGEs on Focal Behaviour? 78 4.5 What are the Evolutionary Consequences of IGEs? 81 4.5.1 What about the Role of Social Selection? 82 4.5.2 What Happens When Ψ is Also Able to Evolve? 83 4.5.3 Can IGEs Influence Other Important Evolutionary Processes? 83 4.5.4 What are the Longer Term Consequences of IGEs? 85 4.6 Conclusions and Future Directions 85 References 87 5 Genes and Behaviour 93Chelsea A. Weitekamp and Laurent Keller 5.1 Genetic Architecture of Phenotypic Traits 94 5.2 Effects of Single Genes on Behaviour 95 5.2.1 The Foraging Gene and Food-Search Behaviour 97 5.2.2 Arginine Vasopressin Receptor and Pair-Bonding Behaviour 98 5.2.3 Neuropeptide Y Homolog, Sensory Neurons, and Social Feeding Behaviour 98 5.3 Effects of Supergenes on Behaviour 99 5.3.1 Social Organization in Ants 100 5.3.2 Alternative Mating Tactics in Birds 100 5.4 Evolvability of Behaviour-Associated Genes 101 5.5 Are Behavioural Traits Unique? 101 5.6 Conclusion 103 Acknowledgements 103 References 103 6 Genes and Environments in Drosophila Sex 111David J. Hosken, Amanda Bretman, Stephen F. Goodwin and C. Ruth Archer 6.1 Some Challenges 111 6.2 Introducing Drosophila 112 6.3 The Behaviours 112 6.4 The Genes 113 6.4.1 Single Genes 113 6.4.2 Many Additive Genes 115 6.5 The Environments and the Interactions 116 6.5.1 Social Environments 116 6.5.2 Abiotic Environments 119 6.6 Conclusions 120 Acknowledgements 120 References 120 7 Nature and Nurture in Parental Care 131Nick J. Royle and Allen J. Moore 7.1 Genetics Underlying Parental Care 133 7.1.1 Quantitative Genetic Studies 134 7.1.2 Molecular Genetic Studies 135 7.2 Parental Care is Environmentally Sensitive 137 7.2.1 Hormonal Mediation of Parental Care 138 7.3 Gene by Family Environment Interactions 141 7.3.1 GxFE Studies 141 7.3.2 Heritability of the Social Environment and IGEs 143 7.3.3 Coadaptation and Correlational Selection (Social Epistasis as a Special Case of GxFE) 145 7.4 Summary and Conclusion 147 References 148 8 The Effect of Non-Self Genes on the Behaviour of Hosts 157Nina Wedell 8.1 What are Non-Self Genes (NSGs)? 158 8.2 Indirect Effects of NSGs 158 8.3 Direct Effects of NSGs 159 8.4 Host Responses 160 8.5 Odour is a Key Signal 161 8.6 Kin Recognition 162 8.7 Mate Choice and Reproductive Behaviour 163 8.8 Aggressiveness 166 8.9 Activity, Aggregation, and Dispersal 167 8.10 Feeding 168 8.11 Learning and Memory 170 8.12 Summary and Conclusion 171 References 172 9 The Nature and Nurturing of Animal Minds 181Alex Thornton and Neeltje J. Boogert 9.1 Cognition Evolves 183 9.1.1 Adaptive Cognitive Specializations 183 9.1.2 Heritability of Cognitive Traits 185 9.2 Cognition Develops 187 9.2.1 Cognitive Consequences of a Poor Start in Life 187 9.2.2 Cognitive Silver Spoons 188 9.2.3 Adaptive Developmental Plasticity in Cognition 189 9.3 Cognitive Reaction Norms: Mind-Moulding Gene-by-Environment Interactions 191 9.3.1 The Mystery of (the Lack of) Cognitive Resilience 192 9.3.2 Practice Makes Perfect: Genetic Quality and Cognitive Silver Spoons 193 9.3.3 Cultural and Epigenetic Inheritance of Cognitive Traits 194 9.3.4 Gene by Environment and Methodological Issues in Comparative Cognition 194 9.4 Conclusion 195 References 196 10 Evolution and Human Behaviour: Helping to Make Sense of Modern Life 203Louise Barrett and Gert Stulp 10.1 Understanding Interaction 204 10.2 Understanding the Scope and Limits of an Evolutionary Approach 205 10.3 Evolutionary Thinking as Puzzle Solving 206 10.4 Recognizing the Consequences of Our Actions 208 10.5 Thinking Differently about Fertility Control 210 10.6 Modern Contraception and Mate Choice 212 10.7 Evolution and Assisted Reproductive Technologies 214 10.8 No Free Lunch 216 10.9 Conclusion 217 References 218 11 Next-Gen and the Study of Behaviour 223Simone Immler 11.1 Current Sequencing Technologies 223 11.1.1 Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) and Linkage Mapping 224 11.1.1.1 Microarrays 226 11.1.1.2 RAD Sequencing 227 11.1.1.3 Exome Sequencing 227 11.1.1.4 Whole-Genome Sequencing 227 11.1.2 Gene Expression Analyses 228 11.1.2.1 RNA Sequencing (RNAseq) 228 11.1.3 Epigenetic Analyses 228 11.1.3.1 CHiP Sequencing (CHiPseq) 228 11.1.3.2 Bisulfite Sequencing 229 11.2 Caveats and Challenges and Some Solutions 229 11.2.1 Solid Phenotype 229 11.2.2 Sample Quality 230 11.2.3 Sampling 230 11.2.4 Libraries and Sample Pools 230 11.2.5 Reference Genome 231 11.2.6 Sample Size 232 11.2.7 Replication 232 11.2.8 Coverage 232 11.2.9 Pilot Studies 233 11.2.10 Time and Planning 233 11.2.11 Bioinformatics 233 11.2.12 Collaboration 234 11.3 Linking Behavioural Phenotypes to Genotypes using NGS 234 11.4 What’s Next 237 11.4.1 Understanding the Non-Coding Regions of the Genome 238 11.4.2 Gene Knock-down and Knock-out in Non-Model Organisms 238 11.5 Concluding Remarks 240 References 240 12 Nature-Nurture in the Twenty-First Century 245Nina Wedell, John Hunt and David J. Hosken Acknowledgements 249 References 249 Index 253

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