Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books

Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of how the human brain evolved... and is still evolving. We've come a long way. The earliest human had a brain as small as a child's fist; ours are four times bigger, with spectacular abilities and potential we are only just beginning to understand.This is How the Mind Changed, a seven-million-year journey through our own heads, packed with vivid stories, groundbreaking science, and thrilling surprises. Discover how memory has almost nothing to do with the past; meditation rewires our synapses; magic mushroom use might be responsible for our intelligence; climate accounts for linguistic diversity; and how autism teaches us hugely positive lessons about our past and future.Dr Joseph Jebelli's In Pursuit of Memory was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and longlisted for the Wellcome. In this, his eagerly awaited second book, he draws on deep insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and philosophy to guide us through the unexpected changes that shaped our brains. From genetic accidents and environmental forces to historical and cultural advances, he explores how our brain's evolution turned us into Homo sapiens and beyond.A single mutation is all it takes.Trade ReviewHow did humans develop such a runaway mind? Joseph Jebelli masterfully illuminates the neurobiological road by which we arrived, and where it might reach from here -- David Eagleman, bestselling author of Livewired and IncognitoJebelli writes with aplomb and an eye for arresting asides... This is a slim, accessible and thought-provoking book - a springboard to further reading * The Times *an eye for thrilling details makes his approachable, sometimes provocative book an aptly mind-expanding experience for the curious reader * The Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis'Thrilling, provocative and mind-expanding' Mail on Sunday'Masterful and illuminating' DAVID EAGLEMAN Dr Joseph Jebelli takes us on a seven-million-year journey through our own heads, drawing on insights from neuroscience, evolutionary biology, psychology, and philosophyto reveal how our brain's evolution turned us into Homo sapiens and beyond.Discover how memory has almost nothing to do with the past; magic mushroom use might be responsible for our intelligence; and how autism teaches us hugely positive lessons about our past and future.A single mutation is all it takes.'Written with aplomb and an eye for arresting asides . . . This is an accessible and thought-provoking book' The TimesTrade ReviewHow did humans develop such a runaway mind? Joseph Jebelli masterfully illuminates the neurobiological road by which we arrived, and where it might reach from here -- David Eagleman, bestselling author of Livewired and IncognitoJebelli writes with aplomb and an eye for arresting asides... This is a slim, accessible and thought-provoking book - a springboard to further reading * The Times *An eye for thrilling details makes his approachable, sometimes provocative book an aptly mind-expanding experience for the curious reader * The Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis'An insightful book with sparkling wit and humour that will appeal to new and seasoned readers of palaeontology.'Dr Anjana Khatwa, TV presenter and Earth ScientistIt is difficult to conceive of the vast scale of the history of life on Earth, from the very first living organisms sparking into life in hydrothermal deep-sea vents to the dizzying diversity of life today. The evolution of life is a sweeping epic of a tale, with twists and turns, surprising heroes and unlikely survivors. The Earth beautifully distils this complex story into a meaningful scale. In taking a closer look at 47 carefully selected organisms over fifteen periods in our planetary history, this book tells the whole story of life on Earth, and the interconnectedness that unites us through our ecosystems and planetary history.Prepare to be confounded by the ingenuity of evolutionary biologies, humbled by our own brief part in this epic history, and disquieted by our disproportionate impact on the world we call home.'An extraordinarily accessible and informative biography of life seen through the many forms it has generated and preserved in stone, beautifully presented. From tales of the well-known stars of palaeontology like Archaeopteryx to the many-sided cultural stories of the earliest bee fossil, everyone will learn something new.'Thomas Halliday, bestselling author of Otherlands: A World in the MakingTrade ReviewThis ambitious new book provides insights into 47 species that have defined how life has evolved on our planet. With an eye towards those who are new to science, the book is cleverly written with a light touch to draw you into remarkable worlds with astonishing revelations. I particularly love how the punchy, bite sized chunks of information are easily digestible over a breakfast morning read as your favourite cereal. Elsa has achieved an extraordinary feat - an insightful book with sparkling wit and humour that will appeal to new and seasoned readers of palaeontology. -- Dr Anjana Khatwa, TV presenter and Earth ScientistBeyond interesting facts and unusual animals, what ties it all together and elevates this book is the writing, both on account of the excellent explanations and the beautiful phrasing... [Panciroli] injects a degree of poetry that makes you see extinct organisms in a new light...The combination of interesting popular science facts, inspired writing, and a mission to correct common misconceptions make this book easy to recommend, and it would make for a great gift. * The Inquisitive Biologist *An extraordinarily accessible and informative biography of life seen through the many forms it has generated and preserved in stone, beautifully presented. From tales of the well-known stars of palaeontology like Archaeopteryx to the many-sided cultural stories of the earliest bee fossil, everyone will learn something new. -- Thomas Halliday, bestselling author of Otherlands: A World in the Making

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Book SynopsisThe history of life on Earth is, in some form or another, known to us all--or so we think. A New History of Life offers a provocative new account, based on the latest scientific research, of how life on our planet evolved--the first major new synthesis for general readers in two decades.Charles Darwin's theories, first published more than 150 years ago, still set the paradigm of how we understand the evolution of life--but scientific advances of recent decades have radically altered that. Now two pioneering scientists draw on their years of experience in paleontology, biology, chemistry, and astrobiology to deliver an eye-opening narrative using a generation's worth of insights culled from new research. Writing with zest, humor, and clarity, Ward and Kirschvink show that many of our long-held beliefs about the history of life are wrong. Three central themes emerge. First, Ward and Kirschvink argue that catastrophe shaped life's history more than all other forces combined--from notorious events like the sudden extinction of dinosaurs to the recently discovered "Snowball Earth" and the "Great Oxygenation Event." Second, life consists of carbon, but oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide determined how it evolved. Third, ever since Darwin we have thought of evolution in terms of species. Yet it is the evolution of ecosystems--from deep-ocean vents to rainforests--that has formed the living world as we know it. Ward and Kirschvink tell a story of life on Earth that is at once fabulous and familiar. And in a provocative coda, they assemble discoveries from the latest cutting-edge research to imagine how the history of life might unfold deep into the future.

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Book SynopsisA remarkable investigation into the hominoids of Flores Island, their place on the evolutionary spectrum—and whether or not they still survive.While doing fieldwork on the remote Indonesian island of Flores, anthropologist Gregory Forth came across people talking about half-apelike, half-humanlike creatures that once lived in a cave on the slopes of a nearby volcano. Over the years he continued to record what locals had to say about these mystery hominoids while searching for ways to explain them as imaginary symbols of the wild or other cultural representations. Then along came the ‘hobbit’. In 2003, several skeletons of a small-statured early human species alongside stone tools and animal remains were excavated in a cave in western Flores. Named Homo floresiensis, this ancient hominin was initially believed to have lived until as recently as 12,000 years ago—possibly overlapping with the appearance of Homo sapiens on Flores. In view of this timing and the striking resemblance of floresiensis to the mystery creatures described by the islanders, Forth began to think about the creatures as possibly reflecting a real species, either now extinct but retained in ‘cultural memory’ or even still surviving. He began to investigate reports from the Lio region of the island where locals described 'ape-men' as still living. Dozens claimed to have even seen them. In Between Ape and Human, we follow Forth on the trail of this mystery hominoid, and the space they occupy in islanders’ culture as both natural creatures and as supernatural beings. In a narrative filled with adventure, Lio culture and language, zoology and natural history, Forth comes to a startling and controversial conclusion. Unique, important, and thought-provoking, this book will appeal to anyone interested in human evolution, the survival of species (including our own) and how humans might relate to ‘not-quite-human’ animals. Between Ape and Human is essential reading for all those interested in cryptozoology, and it is the only firsthand investigation by a leading anthropologist into the possible survival of a primitive species of human into recent times—and its coexistence with modern humans.Trade Review"Mr. Forth is a highly reputable scholar, a scrupulous researcher, as well as an effective communicator....[In Between Ape and Human] Mr. Forth recounts much that is suggestive and intriguing, deep diving into Lio beliefs about the lai ho’a in myth, legend, religion, and rumor." -- Wall Street Journal"Between Ape and Human is fascinating reading for someone who understands that, while archeology trades in materials science and in firm estimates of dates and purpose, anthropology is about conversations and culture...[Forth] presents a record of the puzzling information that he collected and then sets out the anthropologist’s own ideas about whether the modern-day Flores hobbits descend directly from the ancient ones. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, you might want to read the book." -- Forbes Online"As Forth puts it, 'the challenge for social anthropologists is to discover the correct relationship between the palaeontological and ethnographic images and the true source of their resemblance.' Between Ape and Human is an important contribution in navigating that relationship." -- Journal of Scientific Exploration“Well-written and entertaining. Between Ape and Human tells not just the story of Homo floresiensis. It tells a story of how we perceive nature and how people deal with the unknown. It is as much about the science of our human relatives as it is about human nature and how we view the world. Forth compellingly grapples with how to interpret these observations and what they mean in the real world.” -- Rob DeSalle, American Museum of Natural History, author of A Natural History of Color

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Book SynopsisAdapt or die: it's nature's most famous imperative. But how does evolution actually happen? It's too slow to see, but it's going on all around you, all the time. Even if you're on top of the key terms - variation? Natural selection? Parent-offspring conflict? - you still need some context to put them in. From populations to speciation and polymorphism to evolutionary psychology, here's the one-stop source for all you need to know. Evolution unlocks the laboratory of life, dissecting it into the 50 most significant topics that provide the missing links to understand the natural world's four-billion-year ancestry and the process of natural selection in which species either adapt in myriad ways - mutation, ingenuity, and intelligence - to meet the challenges of a changing environment, or die. Unravel the development of living organisms, at micro and macro level - from genes to geniuses.

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Book SynopsisBritain's foremost astrobiologist offers an accessible and game-changing account of why life is like it is.The puzzles of life astound and confuse us like no other mystery. But in this revolutionary new book, Charles Cockell reveals how nature is far more understandable and predictable than we think. Refining Darwin's theory of natural selection, Cockell puts forward a remarkable and elegant account of why evolution has taken the paths it has. From animals to atoms, he shows that is it not biology, but physics, which is the true touchstone for understanding life in all its extraordinary forms._______________An intriguing and enthralling adventure into the physics of life that is all around us and inside us. Cockell provides a reminder of the seeming rarity of all this beauty but also an invitation to look up to the skies and ask 'where else might something like this be?' - Robin Ince - Presenter of BBC Radio 4's Infinite Monkey CageRiveting... Cockell is not only a fine scientist but a fine writer too. - Sir Martin Rees - Astronomer Royal and former President of the Royal SocietyTrade ReviewRiveting... Cockell is not only a fine scientist but a fine writer too. * Sir Martin Rees – Astronomer Royal and former President of the Royal Society *An intriguing and enthralling adventure into the physics of life that is all around us and inside us. Cockell provides a reminder of the seeming rarity of all this beauty but also an invitation to look up to the skies and ask 'where else might something like this be?' * Robin Ince – Presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage *Magisterial and collegial, this may be the biology book of the year * Booklist *Fascinating . . . Cockell offers surprising insights * Sean Carroll, author of The Particle at the End of the Universe *An invaluable guide... Life is generally described as a matter of contingency: what we find in nature is the result of countless historical accidents. In The Equations of Life, Charles Cockell provides an important counterbalance to that picture. * Philip Ball, author of Critical Mass *A lucid, provocative argument that the dazzling variety of organisms produced by 4 billion years of evolution may seem unbounded, but all follow universal laws. * Kirkus *Enlightening and entertaining... Whether on this third rock from the Sun or another planet in a far-distant galaxy, creatures should share forms and behaviours shaped by the forces of natural selection and the fundamental laws of physics that reign throughout the universe. * Lee Billings, author of Five Billion Years of Solitude *Fascinating. A profound exploration of the deep nexus between physics and biology. * Andreas Wagner, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Zürich and author of Arrival of the Fittest *

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents the combined proceedings of two complementary sessions of the XVIII UISPP World Congress (4–9 June 2018, Paris, France): Sessions XXXII-2 and XXXIV-8. These sessions aimed to identify demographic variations during the Neolithic and Bronze Age and to question their causes while avoiding the potential taphonomic and chronological biases affecting the documentation. It appears that certain periods feature a large number of domestic and/or funeral sites in a given region and much fewer in the following periods. These phenomena have most often been interpreted in terms of demographics, habitat organization or land use. They are sometimes linked to climatic and environmental crises or historical events, such as population displacements. In the past few years, the increase in large-scale palaeogenetic analyses concerning late prehistory and protohistory has led to the interpretation of genomic modifications as the result of population movements leading to demographic transformations. Nevertheless, historiography demonstrates how ideas come and go and come again. Migration is one of these ideas: developed in the first part of the XX century, then abandoned for more social and economic analysis, it recently again assumed importance for the field of ancient people with the increase of isotopic and ancient DNA analysis. But these new analyses have to be discussed, as the old theories have been; their results offer new data, but not definitive answers. During the sessions, the full range of archaeological data and isotopic and genetic analysis were covered, however for this publication, mainly archaeological perspectives are presented.Table of ContentsDemography and migration: an introduction – Réjane Roure, Thibault Lachenal and Olivier Lemercier ; Is it possible to observe the Demographic Evolution from the Middle Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age – Olivier Lemercier ; Essai sur la dynamique de peuplement à l’échelle du canton de Fribourg (Suisse) – Léonard Kramer et Michel Mauvilly ; Demographic dynamics, paleoenvironmental changes and social complexity in the late prehistory of central Sicily – Enrico Giannitrapani and Filippo Iannì ; Dynamiques de peuplement de la fin du Néolithique à la fin de l’âge du Bronze en France – Cyril Marcigny,Vincent Riquier, Frédéric Audouit, Eric Frénée, Eric Néré, Rebecca Peake et Marc Talon ; Entre Champagne et Bourgogne, quelle trajectoire du peuplement protohistorique dans la plaine de Troyes ? – Vincent Riquier et Grégory Dandurand ; Demographic Transitions – Cycles and Mobility in the Neolithic of Western Germany – Andreas Zimmermann, Silviane Scharl and Isabell Schmidt ; Comment s’est produit le premier peuplement des petites îles ? Étude de cas de l’archipel – Tomaso Di Fraia ; The Bell Beaker Question: from Historical-Cultural Approaches to aDNA Analyses – Olivier Lemercier ; Migrations, mobilities and integrations in Campania (8th-7th centuries BC): trajectories and perspectives – Anna Maria Desiderio and Arianna Esposito ; Réflexions pluridisciplinaires sur l’installation des Helvètes Tigurins dans l’ouest du Plateau suisse – Thierry Luginbühl, Julia Genechesi, Pascal Brand et Matthieu Demierre ; Auteurs / Authors

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Book SynopsisObvious questions do not always have obvious answers. John Gribbin is known for giving us simple explanations of big concepts in science. But there is another way to probe the mysteries of the Universe and our place in it. Faced with persistent enquiries from his grandchildren, Gribbin realised that simple questions, such as 'Why is the sky blue?', sometimes require big answers, understandable in straightforward language. In answering those simple questions, he discovered that he was telling the story of our place in the Universe, from the Big Bang to the evolutionary reasons why men are, on average, bigger than women. The questions may be obvious, but the answers are sometimes surprising and highlight one of the main joys of science - discovering the unexpected. In this book, Gribbin invites the reader to join him on this voyage of discovery, where you may think you already know the answers but should be prepared to be surprised - or at least, tantalised by the truth.Trade ReviewGribbin takes each point and uses it both to bring in some history of science and to dive into a little more depth, while staying approachable * Popular Science *Gribbin's answers are knowledgeable, stimulating and sometimes entertaining * Nature *

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Book SynopsisWhen the young naturalist Darwin set sail on a round-the-world expedition at the end of 1831, it was only with a vague notion that the relationships between all life forms, both present and extinct, were more complex than the Christian version of the world’s creation purported them to be. During his five-year voyage of discovery on board HMS Beagle and more than two decades subsequently devoted to research, he painstakingly collected a mass of evidence from across the planet – from Paraguay and the Galápagos Islands to Staffordshire and Scotland – building a compelling case for the theory of natural selection, which would change the way we look at the world for ever. The founding text of evolutionary biology – which prompted a revolution in the fields of science and religion similar in magnitude to the discoveries of Copernicus and Newton – Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was an instant best-seller when it was published in 1859 and has become a cultural milestone that has influenced a wide range of disciplines of human knowledge.

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Book SynopsisThe fields of molecular evolution, genome evolution, and evolutionary genetics are now well-established. Remarkably, however, although all evolutionary modifications begin at the cellular level, and despite the advances made in cell biology and microbiology over the past few decades, there is as yet no recognised discipline of evolutionary cell biology. The goal of this book is to help establish the foundations for this emerging field. Its principal aims are twofold: firstly, to promote an understanding among evolutionary biologists as to why the cellular details matter if we are to understand the mechanisms of evolution; secondly, to make clear to non-evolutionary biologists - cell biologists in particular - that evolution is not just a matter of natural selection and optimization, but a process whose reach depends on other population genetic features such as mutation, recombination, and random genetic drift. Although there are many excellent books on cell biology, microbiology, and biophysics, almost no attention is given to evolution. Likewise, although there are numerous evolutionary biology books on the market, none of them gives more than passing attention to details at the cellular level. Thus Evolutionary Cell Biology is genuinely novel, offering a broader understanding of evolutionary processes and an appreciation for the many interesting problems that remain to be solved at the cellular and subcellular levels.This advanced textbook is aimed at both cell biologists and evolutionary biologists. It will be accessible to upper-level undergraduates in biology, and certainly to graduate students in all areas of the life sciences. Professionals from a wide range of fields - cell biology, microbiology, evolution, biophysics, biochemistry, and mathematics - will be exposed to entirely new ideas not traditionally covered in their primary fields of expertise.

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Book SynopsisBerwick and Chomsky draw on recent developments in linguistic theory to offer an evolutionary account of language and humans' remarkable, species-specific ability to acquire it.“A loosely connected collection of four essays that will fascinate anyone interested in the extraordinary phenomenon of language.”—New York Review of BooksWe are born crying, but those cries signal the first stirring of language. Within a year or so, infants master the sound system of their language; a few years after that, they are engaging in conversations. This remarkable, species-specific ability to acquire any human language—“the language faculty”—raises important biological questions about language, including how it has evolved. This book by two distinguished scholars—a computer scientist and a linguist—addresses the enduring question of the evolution of language.Robert Berwick and Noam Chomsky explain that unti

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Book SynopsisA concise introduction to the concept of species, discussing its complexity, use and importance in biology, philosophy, ethics, policymaking and conservation. The book provides a history of the concept and its' problems and benefits for any interested reader, including those without previous knowledge of biology or philosophy.Trade Review'The species problem is a vexing and important one, and John Wilkins has done more than anyone else to dig into its history and integrate it with philosophy past and present. Thus he was the perfect author for this book, which is a wonderful, accessible entryway to the diverse set of issues bearing on why species have been such a 'thing' for 2000 years. My own conclusion is to follow Darwin and acknowledge the species rank is a meaningless human construct - the full tree of life is what matters, not just the single level within it arbitrarily called species. But to decide whether to agree with me or not, you need to absorb the content in this book.' Brent D. Mishler, author of What, if Anything, are Species?, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley'The species problem is one of the most complex issues in evolutionary biology and philosophy of biology, and not many would have succeeded in producing a comprehensive overview of it and doing justice to both science and philosophy. Written by one of the most eminent scholars in the field, Understanding Species is an informative and, due to the author's eloquent writing style, at the same time also very entertaining read. It both quenches your thirst for knowledge and makes you want to dive deeper into the topic. What more can you ask of a book? Highly recommended!' Frank E. Zachos, Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria, author of Species Concepts in Biology (2016)'A species is like jazz: you know one when you meet it, but on closer inspection it's very hard to define. In this engaging book, John Wilkins guides us deftly through the philosophical minefield of what species are, how you recognise them, and how trying to find definitions for species is increasingly important for science and conservation.' Henry Gee, author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth'This book is a stunning achievement, and I think nobody other than Wilkins could have tied together the disparate perspectives needed to write it. Species problems are notoriously thorny and multi-disciplinary, yet Wilkins manages to shine great light on them. Most impressively he does this in ways that many people, rather than just species experts, can understand, engage, and enjoy. The writing is snappy, the choice of topics smart, and the rewards for readers will be many.' Matthew J. Barker, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University, MontréalTable of ContentsForeword; Preface; 1. How species matter; 2. Classifying species; 3. Making species; 4. A short history of species and kinds; 5. Philosophy and species; 6. Finding species; 7. Extinction, or how species are lost; 8. The value of species; 9. Replacing species; 10. Conclusions and summary; Summary of misunderstandings of species; Readings; Figure credits; Index.

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Book SynopsisOn the Prowl is a fully illustrated and approachable guide to the evolution of the big cats and what it portends for their conservation today. Mark Hallett and John M. Harris trace the origins of these iconic carnivores, venturing down the evolutionary pathways that produced the diversity of big cat species that have walked the earth.Trade ReviewOn the Prowl is a superb book, both enjoyable and instructive. I’m greatly impressed with the huge amount of data that Hallett and Harris have collected and presented in a most readable manner. The complex evolutionary history and relationships of the cats will keep researchers arguing for years. -- George Schaller, senior conservationist, Wildlife Conservation Society, and author of The Serengeti Lion: A Study of Predator-Prey RelationsOn the Prowl brings together biological and paleontological research related to the origins and history of the big cats, with an original emphasis on Asiatic data, paying homage to their majesty, dignity, and beauty. Mark Hallett’s artwork has succeeded brilliantly in capturing their inner spirit and character, their vulnerability and vitality. This book will serve the noble goals of making people aware of the fragility of ecosystems and revealing the moral obligation to preserve and protect extant species. -- Christine Argot, research professor and curator of collections, Muséum National d’Histoire NaturelleHallett and Harris guide the reader on a 20-million-year tour of predator and prey evolution, using environmental change as an engine for adaptation and extinction. The narrative is engaging, spiked with a touch of controversy, and supported by superb illustrations. For those interested in the evolutionary origins of big cats, On the Prowl would be a valuable addition to your library. -- Christopher Shaw, Idaho Museum of Natural History[An] erudite study of big cats. * Nature *Will have many a book lover purring with pleasure. * The Inquisitive Biologist *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPreface1. Threads in the Fabric of Time2. Anatomy of a Hunter3. A Breath of Frost4. Beyond the Distant Horizons5. Testimony of the Caves6. Aftermath of an Ice Age7. Man the Destroyer8. The Steeds of DurgaAppendix 1: Distribution of Pantherins and Other Felids in Geologic TimeAppendix 2: Pantherin Dispersals Across the WorldAppendix 3: Taking ActionAppendix 4: Species of the Genus PantheraGlossarySourcesSuggested ReadingIndex

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Book SynopsisIn the 1960s biologists and social scientists engaged in a public debate about human nature. The questionwhether humans are innately aggressive or cooperativeeventually receded, but the oppositional naturenurture binary created in the course of the debate left a lasting legacy that would underpin subsequent discussions of human behavior.Trade ReviewInformative, accessible, and filled with fascinating portraits of her large cast of characters, Weidman’s book makes an important contribution to our understanding of how ideas about nature and nurture were constructed, contested, and disseminated in the United States between the 1950s and 1980s. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Psychology Today *Weidman deserves praise for her rigorous historiography. The book reads so well and smoothly that it could be approached by anyone…[An] excellent piece of scholarship. -- Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda * H-Net Reviews *Weidman masterfully examines the quest for humankind’s innate, biological nature in the years following the Second World War. With compelling scientific storytelling, the author chronicles how charismatic individuals shaped selective scientific findings into a bloody vision of aggressive Homo sapiens in the public mind. It is as much a rich historical account as it is a cautionary tale, considering the virality of current distortions of science. -- B. Natterson-Horowitz * Quarterly Review of Biology *Nadine Weidman has written a brilliant and elegant book. If you’ve ever wondered about the real reasons human beings act one way or another—and why this search for our root instincts has maintained persistent prominence throughout time—you now have the ideal guide. -- Rebecca Lemov, author of Database of Dreams: The Lost Quest to Catalog HumanityWith exceptional scholarship and a compelling narrative, Nadine Weidman reveals how the science of an essentialized ‘human nature’ was constructed, popularized, and fought over in the 1950s through the 1980s. Focusing on the work of Konrad Lorenz, Ashley Montagu, Robert Ardrey, E. O. Wilson, and Ruth Hubbard, Weidman provides an important new understanding of the history of instinct, aggression, and ‘popular science.’ -- Andrew S. Winston, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph

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Book SynopsisAre we alone in the universe? It is a captivating question, but one that historically eluded proper scientific investigation. The new discipline of astrobiology changes the game, introducing rigor to the quest for extraterrestrial life. Life in the Cosmos surveys the field, showing how cutting-edge research is closing in on the answers “out there.”Trade ReviewThe new go-to for astrobiology. Life in the Cosmos is a quantitative and encyclopedic tour de force for all topics related to the origin of life on Earth and life’s existence beyond. -- Sara Seager, author of The Smallest Lights in the UniverseAn instant classic. Lingam and Loeb’s brilliant Life in the Cosmos is a momentous scientific achievement. To anyone looking to dig deep into the exciting prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life, I say: Make space on your bookshelf. -- Michael J. Russell, University of TurinA book of sweeping vision. Lingam and Loeb offer detailed and insightful analysis of the challenges we face as we investigate the universal distribution of this unusual material we call life. A helpful and fascinating read. -- Charles Cockell, author of Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the UniverseAre we alone in the universe? Lingam and Loeb provide expert guidance to the many dimensions of this fundamental question—and, just maybe, how to answer it. -- Andrew H. Knoll, author of A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight ChaptersA remarkable and modern survey of how to search for life in the universe, from two of the boldest, most innovative thinkers in the field today. Impressively detailed, this book takes into account what we know about life on Earth to consider what we don’t know about life elsewhere. -- Jason Wright, Director, Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence CenterThis book discusses everything you ever wanted to know about life in the cosmos. Lingam and Loeb are the best guides for this truly breathtaking journey, providing masterful and comprehensive answers for everyone, from the scholar to the amateur stargazer. -- Dimitar Sasselov, author of The Life of Super-Earths: How the Hunt for Alien Worlds and Artificial Cells Will Revolutionize Life on Our PlanetThe search for intelligent alien life continues to motivate and inspire generations of scientists and the public alike…The authors separate themselves from other treatments of similar topics by focusing on ‘extraterrestrial technological intelligences’ rather than alien life more generally. * Nature Astronomy *Boldly goes where few academic books have gone before by seriously and open-mindedly considering the possibility of extraterrestrial technological intelligence on par with or far beyond humans…Chock-full of interesting topics and insights…A stellar achievement that deserves the undivided attention of readers who are ready to take a deep dive into astrobiology. * Inquisitive Biologist *An excellent primer on life on earth, from the very beginnings…Both incredibly wide-ranging and constantly fascinating. * Complete Review *

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Book SynopsisWhy do humans, uniquely among animals, cooperate in large numbers to advance projects for the common good? Contrary to the conventional wisdom in biology and economics, this generous and civic-minded behavior is widespread and cannot be explained simply by far-sighted self-interest or a desire to help close genealogical kin. In A Cooperative SpecieTrade Review"The achievement of Bowles and Gintis is to have put together from the many disparate sources of evidence a story as plausible as any we're likely to get in the present state of behavioural sciences of how human beings came to be as co-operative as they are."--W.G. Runciman, London Review of Books "In A Cooperative Species, economists Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis update their ideas on the evolutionary origins of altruism. Containing new data and analysis, their book is a sustained and detailed argument for how genes and culture have together shaped our ability to cooperate... By presenting clear models that are tied tightly to empirically derived parameters, Bowles and Gintis encourage much-needed debate on the origins of human cooperation."--Peter Richerson, Nature "An outstanding book that presents an important contribution and quite simply raises the scientific standard associated with the difficult and contentious problem of how human altruism evolved."--Charles Efferson, Economic Journal "A Cooperative Species: Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution states a clearly articulated gene-culture coevolution explanation for why we are a cooperative species. It is a read that will stretch readers' minds a bit, and I think it is an eminently valuable read... I await with eagerness the next time Bowles and Gintis are out cooperating again."--Jonathan D. Springer, PsycCRITIQUES "[T]he authors' systematic and mathematical approach will appeal to any reader seriously interested in learning about alternative theories of adaptive altruism, and their treatment of cultural inheritance using population-genetic models is first-rate. Although this book will by no means settle the debate surrounding the evolutionary origin of altruism, it is a worthy addition and is well worth reading."--P. William Hughes, Journal of Economic Issues "Bowles and Gintis are clearly not short of ideas. The attention they draw to the role of conflict and coordinated punishment in the evolution of our cooperative and reciprocal species makes the book very much worth reading. Their focus on the evolution of human nature also paints a much richer picture of our behavior than traditional economics tends to do."--Journal of Economic Literature "Bowles and Gintis are not the first to claim that competition, conflict, and war between human groups is the foundation of cooperation and of society. However, their integration of this insight into evolutionary game theory stands to increase the accessibility of this powerful idea to a large number of scholars working in a dominant theoretical perspective that spans the social and biological sciences. This is one reason why I recommend their new book A Cooperative Species: Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution."--Noah Mark, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation "This book makes a strong case for returning as a discipline to this vexed theme. I can only hope we do so with the analytical ingenuity and empirical humility that Bowles and Gintis display."--Jacob G. Foster, American Journal of Sociology "Cooperative Species: Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution should be of interest to individuals across multiple disciplines. The book provides a compelling argument supported by multiple kinds of theoretical and empirical evidence. Although the book does use some technical language and examples in places, the explanation is sufficiently clear to make the main ideas and arguments of the book accessible to individuals who were not previously familiar with these technicalities."--Christopher M. Caldwell, Metapsychology Online "[This book] makes important contributions to our understanding of the nature and function of emotions in politics, including the evolution of emotion and cognition and their linkages to democratic governance... [It] should become [an] important resource for students of politics who have the requisite background in the behavioral sciences and wish to develop an integrated, life science perspective in their own work."--Michael S. Latner, Politics and the Life SciencesTable of ContentsPreface xi Chapter 1: A Cooperative Species 1 Chapter 2: The Evolution of Altruism in Humans 8 2.1 Preferences, Beliefs, and Constraints 9 2.2 Social Preferences and Social Dilemmas 10 2.3 Genes, Culture, Groups, and Institutions 13 2.4 Preview 18 Chapter 3: Social Preferences 19 3.1 Strong Reciprocity Is Common 20 3.2 Free-Riders Undermine Cooperation 22 3.3 Altruistic Punishment Sustains Cooperation 24 3.4 Effective Punishment Depends on Legitimacy 26 3.5 Purely Symbolic Punishment Is Effective 29 3.6 People Punish Those Who Hurt Others 31 3.7 Social Preferences Are Not Irrational 32 3.8 Culture and InstitutionsMatter 33 3.9 Behavior Is Conditioned on Group Membership 35 3.10 People Enjoy Cooperating and Punishing Free-Riders 38 3.11 Social Preferences in Laboratory and Natural Settings 39 3.12 Competing Explanations 42 Chapter 4: The Sociobiology of Human Cooperation 46 4.1 Inclusive Fitness and Human Cooperation 48 4.2 Modeling Multi-level Selection 52 4.3 EquilibriumSelection 57 4.4 Reciprocal Altruism 59 4.5 Reciprocal Altruism in Large Groups 63 4.6 Reputation: Indirect Reciprocity 68 4.7 Altruism as a Signal of Quality 71 4.8 Positive Assortment 72 4.9 Mechanisms and Motives 75 Chapter 5: Cooperative Homo economicus 79 5.1 Folk Theorems and Evolutionary Dynamics 80 5.2 The Folk Theorem with Imperfect Public Information 83 5.3 The Folk Theorem with Private Information 86 5.4 Evolutionarily Irrelevant Equilibria 87 5.5 Social Norms and Correlated Equilibria 89 5.6 The Missing Choreographer 90 Chapter 6: Ancestral Human Society 93 6.1 Cosmopolitan Ancestors 95 6.2 Genetic Evidence 99 6.3 PrehistoricWarfare 102 6.4 The Foundations of Social Order 106 6.5 The Crucible of Cooperation 110 Chapter 7: The Coevolution of Institutions and Behaviors 111 7.1 Selective Extinction 115 7.2 Reproductive Leveling 117 7.3 Genetic Differentiation between Groups 120 7.4 Deme Extinction and the Evolution of Altruism 121 7.5 The Australian Laboratory 123 7.6 The Coevolution of Institutions and Altruism 124 7.7 Simulating Gene-Culture Coevolution 126 7.8 Levelers and Warriors 130 Chapter 8: Parochialism, Altruism, andWar 133 8.1 Parochial Altruism and War 135 8.2 The Emergence of Parochial Altruism and War 138 8.3 Simulated and Experimental Parochial Altruism 142 8.4 The Legacy of a Past "Red in Tooth and Claw" 146 Chapter 9: The Evolution of Strong Reciprocity 148 9.1 Coordinated Punishment 150 9.2 Altruistic Punishment in a Realistic Demography 156 9.3 The Emergence of Strong Reciprocity 159 9.4 Why Coordinated Punishment Succeeds 163 9.5 A Decentralized Social Order 164 Chapter 10: Socialization 167 10.1 Cultural Transmission 168 10.2 Socialization and the Survival of Fitness-Reducing Norms 171 10.3 Genes, Culture, and the Internalization of Norms 173 10.4 The Internalized Norm as Hitchhiker 176 10.5 The Gene-Culture Coevolution of a Fitness-Reducing Norm 179 10.6 How Can Internalized Norms Be Altruistic? 180 10.7 The Programmable Brain 183 11Social Emotions 186 11.1 Reciprocity, Shame, and Punishment 188 11.2 The Evolution of Social Emotions 191 11.3 The "Great Captains of Our Lives" 192 12Conclusion: Human Cooperation and Its Evolution 195 12.1 The Origins of Human Cooperation 196 12.2 The Future of Cooperation 199 Appendix 201 A1 Altruism Defined 201 A2 Agent-Based Models 202 A3 Game Theory 207 A4 Dynamical Systems 209 A5 The Replicator Dynamic 212 A6 Continuation Probability and Time Discount Factor 213 A7 Alternatives to the Standing Model 214 A8 The Prisoner's Dilemma with Public and Private Signals 215 A9 Student and Nonstudent Experimental Subjects 217 A10 The Price Equation 218 A11 Weak Multi-level Selection 222 A12 Cooperation and Punishment with Quorum Sensing 223 References 225 Subject Index 251 Author Index 255

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Book SynopsisSixty-five million years ago, a comet or asteroid larger than Mount Everest slammed into the Earth, inducing an explosion equivalent to the detonation of a hundred million hydrogen bombs. Vaporized detritus blasted through the atmosphere upon impact, falling back to Earth around the globe. Disastrous environmental consequences ensued: a giant tsunaTrade ReviewOne of New York Times Notable Books for 1997 "[D]eft and readable ... T. rex and the Crater of Doom gets the facts across in a lighthearted, almost playful manner. But it's also solid science, a clear and efficient exposition that conveys plenty of cogent detail while keeping an eye on the subtle interplay of thought, action, and personality that makes scientific research such arresting human behavior... [An] estimable account from the world's leading authority on death from above."--Timothy Ferris, New York Times Book Review "A geologist (who happens to be a kind of working philosopher) gives a deft, readable explanation of the extinction of the dinosaurs."--New York Times Book Review "The book is very well written and so engrossing that a reader with little or no background in the earth's geologic history will enjoy an easy and vastly entertaining summary of how we came to our present understanding of the past. It is a wonderful adventure in science."--Dale Russell, The Los Angeles Times Book Review "An unfolding story told by its leading protagonist... Very clearly and entertainingly written, and illustrated with fascinating colour plates, it is accessible even to nonspecialists."--Arthur C. Clarke, The Times Higher Education Supplement "A fascinating proof of a once ridiculed theory. In fitting together the puzzle of dino demise, Alvarez excitingly shapes the story for the widest audience."--Booklist "Every library with geology holdings will want to have this book... Alvarez offers a great detective story... "--Choice "A first-rate, swiftly paced tale of how science can propel its participants down avenues of surprising discovery to breathtaking conclusions."--Charles Petit, San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle "This personal account of the search for a geological Excalibur makes fascinating reading... [It] reads like Arthurian legend, full of temptations which lead the hero astray and distract him and his followers from the true path."--Douglas Palmer, New Scientist "Alvarez's book recounts this scientific detective story in an authoritative yet consistently engaging manner. Once considered absurd, the idea that extraterrestrial factors were involved in some of the great crises in the history of life has become widely accepted."--Hans-Dieter Sues, Toronto Globe and Mail "A nicely told and well-written tale of scientific discovery."--Library Journal "Appealing and accessible, an excellent introduction to the subject."--Kirkus Review "Reading Alvarez's book is a bit like reading a letter from an old friend you haven't seen for 30 years... Serious passages are offset by cheeky commentary and humble asides that keep the book from becoming overly solemn or preachy."--Rachel Berstein, Berkeley Science Review "If you love mysteries and enjoy science, this is a wonderful book to read."--Wildlife ActivistTable of ContentsForeword ix Preface xix CHAPTER 1: Armageddon 3 CHAPTER 2: Ex Libro Lapidum Historia Mundi 19 CHAPTER 3: Gradualist versus Catastrophist 43 CHAPTER 4: Iridium 59 CHAPTER 5: The Search for the Impact Site 82 CHAPTER 6: The Crater of Doom 106 CHAPTER 7: The World after Chicxulub 130 Notes 147 Index 171

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Biology students will find this material helpful, and those with a desire to learn more about the history of life, genes, evolutionary processes, and the like might also find this a worthwhile title to peruse. A comprehensive guide to all aspects of evolution. Great for students and teachers of the subject."--Library Journal "This comprehensive reference covers an enormous breadth of information on the major subjects and key concepts in evolutionary biology... The list of international contributors consists of leading evolutionary biologists from a variety of academic institutions."--Booklist "The writers have worked hard (and succeeded) to make the text as easily readable to the non-specialist reader ... losing the textbook rigor that will be required by the specialist, who wants an up to date and comprehensive reference. I would thoroughly recommend this book both for those who are struggling with epigenetics and for experts who need all the arguments for the facts about evolution easily to hand."--Brian Livingstone, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society "This massive compendium of 107 chapters covers just about everything there is to know about evolution... Overall, an excellent starting point for deeper investigation."--Choice "Princeton University Press, together with the editors and contributors to The Princeton Guide to Evolution, deserve massive congratulations for having produced an exhaustive and fascinating guide to one of the most important of all scientific truths."--Charles H. Middleburgh, Charles Middleburgh Blog "All in all, a good and useful book."--John Goodier, Reference Reviews "I will make extensive use ofThe Princeton Guide to Evolution, and I recommend it to everyone who has questions (and answers) about evolution--what it is, and how it works. Congratulations to the editors and the contributors for a work that will serve a very broad readership well."--Marvalee H. Wake, Reports of the National Center for Science Education "A fascinating tour de force through the multifaceted ideas and facts of one of the most important scientific fields."--Christoph Oberprieler, Journal of Plant PhysiologyTable of Contents837

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a book for gardeners and birders and anyone worried about the direction of the planet."---Jim Williams, Star Tribune"Walker is quite clear that for all our study, what we do know about this subject is vastly overshadowed by what we don't, and by what we may never know before it is destroyed. The book concludes with chapters on the importance of pollination to humankind and . . . . point[s] again and again at the fragile intricacies of the natural world, offer the most eloquent argument for conservation of all."---Rory Dusoir, Gardens Illustrated"A literary elixir of life, precisely the book which will reveal and explain the extraordinary mechanisms of pollination . . . . An excellent book, a wonderful resource . . . an indispensable handbook on pollination."---Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener"[An] abundance of stunning photographs . . . Enlightening and inspiring text."---Dr A M Mannion, Biologist"[University] instructors will appreciate this well-organized, fully indexed volume with numerous examples, simple explanations of complex concepts, and ememorable analogies for teaching."---Karen Goodell, CHOICE

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers""[A] vivid, gripping book. . . . Dale Greenwalt . . . has written a riveting account of a field achieving revolutionary insights."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"[An] eye-opening guide to this new world of understanding, one that encompasses chemistry along with biology."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"An accessible book on ancient life that focuses as much on chemistry as on biology."---Wade Lee-Smith, Library Journal"[Fascinating] . . . an unabashedly excited report from the front lines"---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review"The book provides a fascinating journey through the very latest in research into the origins of life on Earth. . . . No one should be intimidated by this highly readable work."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds"If you think you cannot stomach yet another popular book on palaeontology, think again. Remnants of Ancient Life is as fascinating as the inviting cover and subtitle suggest, managing to put a completely fresh gloss on the topic of palaeontology."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books for Young Adults""The irresistible enthusiasm of Great Adaptations couldn’t come at a better time—science is under assault not merely by know-nothing deniers but in how it is taught and presented to the general public. It’s dispensed as a collection of facts, recitations of what past research has uncovered, findings to be understood, which all too often means just 'memorized.' By contrast, as Mr. Catania clearly understands, and demonstrates beautifully in his book, science offers adventures in trying to decode the mysteries of the natural world."---David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"This engrossing read walks readers through Catania’s life as a scientist. Key discoveries are juxtaposed with lessons about the scientific method, and QR codes sprinkled throughout the book link to short, engrossing movies highlighting some of the author’s fascinating work."---Laura M. Zahn, Science"In page after page, Catania’s enthusiasm and awe for the animals shine through. . . . Some of that enthusiasm will likely rub off on readers and spark a sense of wonder. Great Adaptations packs in plenty of astounding details about some remarkable creatures."---Erin Garcia de Jesus, Science News"[Catania] is as keen that we learn about the process of discovery as about animals themselves. . . . The realms he studies may be on the small scale, but the implications are enormous."---Bill Thompson, The Post and Courier"Casual science readers will be hooked from page one; for those contemplating careers in the sciences, this should be required reading." * Library Journal, starred review *"By blending accessible writing with cutting-edge science, Catania . . . demonstrates how exciting the process of scientific investigation can be in his invigorating debut. . . . The joy Catania takes in the process of exploring the natural world will delight readers." * Publishers Weekly, starred review *"With its combination of clearly explained science and vivid tales from the road, this is a book for anyone who is interested in the natural world and the interesting people who study it."---Linda Lombardi, Shelf Awareness, starred review"Using a variety of visual aids to good effect, Catania explores how the humblest species may have developed their remarkable abilities. . . . It’s clear that being a scientist has only magnified the author’s sense of wonder, and he notes how chance, failure, an open mind, and tirelessly methodical experimentation are as much natural parts of science as breakthroughs. . . . His delight is contagious." * Kirkus Reviews *"This book is a delightful series of ‘aha!’ moments. After doing impressive biological detective work, Kenneth Catania theorizes why some of the most fascinating animal qualities wound up evolving into existence. Tons of fun."---Olivia Rutigliano, LitHub"From mapping the sensory cortex of the star-nosed mole’s brain to tactile receptors in its fleshy tentacles, to illustrating the unique behavioral capabilities of the electric eel, tentacled snake, water shrew, and jewel wasp, each species description reveals a compelling story of evolutionary adaptations in anatomy, physiology, and/or behavior. Catania aptly conveys his wonderment at finding out how an organism interacts with its environment, a project that became his life's work."---J. Burger, Choice"Explaining the needed scientific background at the right level for all likely readers is a particularly hard task, and here Catania does better than some of my favorite scientists and science writers. By focusing on what he, as an experienced instructor of undergraduates, assumes will confuse novice readers, the author covers the necessary background with just enough detail and without being pedantic."---Philip K. Stoddard, Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisAn essential resource for paleontologists, biologists, geologists, and teachers, The Rise of Animals is the best single reference on one of earth's most significant events.Trade ReviewIt's a beautiful book and the definitive account of the period... I love it and expect it to become a classic. -- Jeff Hecht New Scientist 2008 The Rise of Animals offers a much-needed avenue to communicate to the general public the past decade's exciting discoveries of Ediacaran fossils. -- Shuhai Xiao Science 2008 Recommended. Informed general readers; researchers/faculty; professionals/practitioners. Choice 2008 A one-stop shop for up-to-date information about this puzzling meagerie... non-professionals will likewise find that it is a fine-looking book that captures the excitement of scientific discovery. -- Gregory D. Edgecombe BioscienceTable of ContentsForewordAcknowledgementsIntroductionPart I: The Background: The Archean and Proterozoic EonsChapter 1. The Background. The Archean (4.5 Million to 2500 Million Years Ago)Chapter 2. The Background. The Proterozoic (2.5 Billion to 542 Million Years Ago)Part II: The Fossil Sites: Rare and ExtraordinaryIntroductionChapter 3. The Misty Coasts of NewfoundlandChapter 4. The Nama Fauna of Southern AfricaChapter 5. The Ediacara HillsChapter 6. The White Sea's Windswept CoastsChapter 7. Podolia's Green ValleysChapter 8. The Siberian TundraChapter 9. The UralsChapter 10. The Canadian CordilleraChapter 11. Beyond the Major SitesPart III: Other Evidence of AnimaliaChapter 12. First Trace of MotionChapter 13. The World of the Very Small: Fueling the AnimaliaPart IV: A Dramatic Crossroads—The Cambrian "Explosion"?Chapter 14. Body Plans, Strange and Familiar, and the Enigma of 542Atlas of Precambrian MetazoansBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe book includes photographs of fossils from around the world as well as dramatic color illustrations depicting what those fishes may have actually looked like.Trade ReviewAnyone wanting an overview of '500 million years of evolution' of fish and aquatic creatures really needs to read this acclaimed text. It is the work of Australian palaeontologist and curator John A. Long, who works at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. This is a second edition incorporating research from the past 15 years. This is not a work of popular science. It is a richly illustrated technical book that will be of interest to anyone wanting to know about fish before they crawled out of the oceans and started the long journey from amphibians to mammals. Sydney Morning Herald 2011Table of ContentsForeword, by Philippe JanvierPreface to the Second EditionAcknowledgments1. Earth, Rocks, Evolution, and Fish2. Glorified Swimming Worms: The First Fishes3. Jawless Wonders4. Armored Fishes and Fishes with Arms5. Sharks and Their Cartilaginous Kin6. Spiny-Jawed Fishes7. An Epiphany of Evolution8. Primitive Ray-Finned Fishes9. Teleosteans, the Champions10. The Ghost Fish and Other Primeval Predators11. Strangers in the Bite: Dipnomorphans12. Big Teeth, Strong Fins13. The Greatest Step in EvolutionA Classification of FishesGlossaryBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsBrief Table of ContentsPreface1. The Vertebrate Story: An Overview2. Systematics and Vertebrate Evolution3. Early Chordates and Jawless Fishes4. Gnathostome Fishes5. Amphibians6. Evolution of Reptiles7. Morphology, Reproduction, and Development of Turtles, Tuataras, Lizards, and Snakes (Testudines and Lepidosauria)8. Morphology, Reproduction, and Development of Crocodilians and Birds (Archosaurs)9. Mammals10. Vertebrate Zoogeography11. Population Dynamics12. Movements13. Intraspecific Behavior and Ecology14. Interspecific Interactions15. Techniques for Ecological and Behavioral Studies16. Extinction and Extirpation: Natural and Human-Caused17. Restoration of Endangered Species18. Regulatory Legislation Affecting Vertebrates19. Wildlife in a Modern World: Threats and Conservation20. Climate Change21. Wildlife Management in a Modern WorldAppendixesGlossaryBibliographyCreditsTaxonomic IndexSubject Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I. Phylogenetic Context and Historical BiogeographyChapter 1. Metatheria and MarsupialiaChapter 2. South America, the Island ContinentChapter 3. The Great American Biotic Interchange and Its AftermathPart II. Opossum Classification and DiversityChapter 4. Taxonomic AccountsPart III. Opossum PhenotypesChapter 5. MorphologyChapter 6. PhysiologyChapter 7. BehaviorPart IV. Opossum Natural HistoryChapter 8. HabitatsChapter 9. DietsChapter 10. ParasitesChapter 11. PredatorsChapter 12. Competitors and MutualistsChapter 13. Population BiologyPart V. SynthesisChapter 14. Adaptive Radiation Appendix 1. A Checklist of Living Opossums (Didelphidae)Appendix 2. Fruit Taxa Eaten by Opossums in French GuianaAppendix 3. Prey Taxa Eaten by Opossums in Southeastern BrazilReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisA concise, illustrated update on our earliest ancestors, the first sapiens - and on how (and when) we distinguished ourselves Prehistory is changing quickly: Thanks to progress in genetics and dating methods, we now know more than ever about our ancient relatives. A Pocket History of Human Evolution will bring us up to date on the exploits of Homo erectus and ergaster, the Neanderthals, Denisovans, and others. (Hint: There was a lot more crossbreeding than previously supposed.) These latest discoveries have only spurred more questions. Lauded paleoanthropologist Silvana Condemi and science journalist François Savatier consider: What accelerated Homo sapiens evolution - and left us the sole surviving species among many ancient bipedal “humans”? Was it tools, our “large” brain, language, or empathy? Their conclusions are likely to startle (and inspire a new appreciation for the human foot). Condemi and Savatier also look to the future of our strange species - migratory, social animals with a rapidly expanding population, who have transformed our world forever. By taking stock of our ancestors, we can better understand ourselves.

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Book SynopsisA preeminent geneticist, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in medicine, hunts the Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes to answer the biggest question of them all: how did our ancestors become human?Neanderthal Man tells the riveting personal and scientific story of the quest to use ancient DNA to unlock the secrets of human evolution. Beginning with the study of DNA in Egyptian mummies in the early 1980s and culminating in the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2010, Neanderthal Man describes the events, intrigues, failures, and triumphs of these scientifically rich years through the lens of the pioneer and inventor of the field of ancient DNA, Svante Pääbo. We learn that Neanderthal genes offer a unique window into the lives of our ancient relatives and may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of where language came from as well as why humans survived while Neanderthals went extinct. Pääbo redrew our family tree and permanently changed the way we think about who we are and how we got here. For readers of Richard Dawkins, David Reich, and Hope Jahren, Neanderthal Man is the must-read account of how he did it.Trade Review"Neanderthal Man opens with this episode [when Paabo and his team first sequenced Neanderthal DNA], and it's a nice touch by Paabo, bringing us straight to the moment when his long, painstaking effort to tease ancient DNA out of hominin fossils yielded its first dramatic results." --David Quammen, Harper's "Paabo has provided us with a fabulous account of three decade of research into ancient DNA, culminating in 2010 with the publication of the Neanderthal genome... Paabo's book has to be compared to The Double Helix (1968), James Watson's brilliant but controversial account of how the structure of DNA was discovered. When taken together they provide an insight into how bio-molecular science has both changed and remained much the same during the last half-century. Both are strong personal accounts of scientific discovery, exposing how science is driven as much by passion, ambition, and competition as by rational thought and the sharing of knowledge. In both books the reader is gripped by life stories of far greater interest than those in may novels before being plunged into passages of near-unintelligible science (despite much simplification) that are nevertheless strangely enthralling." --Steven Mithen, New York Review of Books "I came for the cavemen, but I stayed for the geeky nail-biter of a story about doing historic science in a climate of fierce international competition and rapid technological innovation... Truth be told, DNA sequencing is pretty wonky stuff, but perhaps it's Paabo's own passionate investment in the undertaking that makes his story so exciting to read about; Neanderthal Man does for paleogenetics something like what Steven Spielberg did for the legislative process in Lincoln... [T]his book is a vibrant testimonial to what might be the greatest creation of modern humans: the scientific method." --Laura Miller, Salon "Much of Paabo's book is devoted to the details of the difficulties [of extracting DNA from ancient bones], and how they were overcome by an awesome combination of technology, ingenuity and persistence. It's a story of how modern high-concept science is done, shot through with the crackle of problem-solving and the hum of project tension, with occasional riffs of annoyance about major scientific journals and people who want dinosaur DNA." --The Independent (UK) "If Paabo weren't such a good storyteller, the book might have bogged down with descriptions of things like the different techniques of polymerase chain reaction, and all it takes to build a clean lab. But he's a clever enough writer to keep the reader's attention with a fast-paced story and wonderful details." --23andMe blog "This is a fascinating story of how modern science and especially computer technology is opening vistas onto our prehistoric history." --The Explorers Journal "Paabo provides a fascinating look at how his personal life intersected with the founding of a scientific field that has revolutionized evolution." --Science News "In Neanderthal Man, Svante Paabo offers readers a front-row seat to the still-unfolding understanding of this enigmatic human ancestor by recounting his own years of work... Paabo quite candidly relays the doubts and challenges that accompanied more than a decade of discovery--a labor that elevated Neanderthals from troglodyte brutes inhabiting a dead-end branch of the human family tree to a complex species that interbred with other hominins, including Homo sapiens. Never one to shy away from provocative statements or even-more-provocative research, Paabo gives what appears to be an honest and open account of his pioneering studies of Neanderthal genetics." --The Scientist "Evolutionary biologists are, general, pretty interesting people to talk to, but rarely would you describe their lives as thrilling. The notion of combining an autobiography with a popular science book may therefore not seem especially compelling. However, in this case both the author and the science are quite extraordinary, and inextricably linked." --Evening Standard (UK) "Paabo's tale describes a process approaching the Platonic Idea of contemporary science: a lot of very smart people collaboratively working their butts off, persisting through mistakes and failures and numbingly repetitive but essential tasks and political machinations and technological inadequacies because they believe the Truth is Out There. And finally finding it. Others have not yet weighed in, and this being top-level and therefore monumentally competitive science, contrarians may well emerge. But if the Neanderthal genome project was anything like what Paabo describes, we are damn lucky." --Tabitha Powledge, Genetic Literacy Project "Paabo passionately chronicles his personal story, from graduate school through the culmination of the Neanderthal project 30 years later, and the scientific implications of this exciting research... In accessible prose, Paabo presents the science so that laypersons will understand the nature and import of his work. But it's his discussion of the scientific process that steals the show... He discusses what it took to build a case tight enough to convince even the most skeptical of colleagues and he goes on to demonstrate that scientific knowledge is cumulative and ever-evolving." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "Svante Paabo's Neanderthal Man is the incredible personal story of one man's quest for our human origins using the latest genome sequence tools. Paabo takes us through his exciting journey to first extract DNA from ancient bones then sequence it to give us the first real glance at our human ancestors, and showing ultimately that early humans and Neanderthals interbred to produce modern humans. This is science at its best and reinforces that contained in each of our genomes is the history of humanity." --J. Craig Venter, Chairman and President, J. Craig Venter Institute "Svante Paabo, a major architect in the study of paleo-DNA, has written a personal, insightful and sometimes very frank book about his relentless quest to understand the human family tree. The first scholar to extract genetic material from Neanderthals, Paabo writes candidly about the seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations he had to overcome to give us intriguing new insights into human origins." --Donald Johanson, Founding Director of the Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, and author of Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind "This is the fascinating account of Svante Paabo's efforts to sequence Neanderthal nuclear DNA... [H]is personal story, from graduate to world-renowned scientist, make this a very enjoyable book... The study of Neanderthals has kept palaeontologists occupied for more than a century, but Paabo convinces us that decoding their DNA will provide insights into how different we are from them and what makes us so unique." --BBC Focus "[An] engaging book... Neanderthal Man is devoted--and devoted is definitely the word--to the years-long ancient DNA project to sequence the Neanderthal genome. Paabo and his far-flung team did that to an accuracy that exceeds most of the contemporary genomes being sequenced today... Before I read Neanderthal Man, I thought I knew something about contamination of ancient DNA. In fact, though, I had no clue. No matter how well informed you are about genetics, Svante Paabo will teach you things." --Tabitha Powledge, PLOS Blogs / On Science Blogs "[A] revealing glimpse into the inner workings of scientific research... Since Neanderthals are our closest evolutionary relatives, the author's work in decoding Neanderthal DNA gives scientists a way to understand how we differ genetically from them and offers the opportunity to learn what genetic changes have made humans unique on this planet." --Kirkus Reviews "The tale Paabo tells is largely one of technological improvement enabling the elimination of contamination and speeding up the sequencing process. Secondarily, it's about creating scientific foundations and multinational scientific cooperation to pursue the promises of research into ancient DNA, including that of nonhuman species as well as hominins." --Booklist "It is a rare thing to read about an important development in science by its principal innovator, written in the spirit and style in which the research unfolded. Neanderthal Man is a dispatch from the front, and if you want to learn how real science is really done, I suggest you read it." --Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Emeritus, Harvard University "[A]n excellent glimpse into how modern science proceeds as a global, social activity... Paabo has to navigate through collaborators and competitors (including people who spend time in both categories), guardians of the bones he wants to grind into dust, touchy issues of nationalism, and more. In the process, he helps found a new research institute and builds a team dedicated to studying ancient DNA. If anyone doubts that science is a social activity, the doubt won't survive reading this book... Paabo paints a picture of how a major scientific advance rose out of a mix of politics, persuasion, careful management, and struggles with technology and technique. For that alone, it's valuable." --Ars Technica "If there is one name associated with ancient DNA, it is Svante Paabo... Paabo pioneered and has largely led the field for the past three decades. His book, Neanderthal Man, is perfectly timed, beautifully written and required reading--it is a window onto the genesis of a whole new way of thinking." --Nature

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Book SynopsisProgress in genetics today would not be possible without Darwin's revolution, but the mysterious man who laid the rational basis for undermining belief in God's creation was remarkable timid. He spent most of his life in seclusion; a semi-invalid, riddled with doubts, fearing the controversy his theories might unleash.In this brilliantly lucid book - a classic originally published in 1982 - Jonathan Miller unravels Darwin's life and his contribution to biology, and traces the path from his scientific predecessors to the later modifications that his own evolutionary theories required.Introducing Darwin brings alive the difficult progress from pre-Darwinian thinking to modern genetics and the devastatingly important impact of one man on our fundamental understanding of biology, life and ourselves.Trade ReviewMiller and Van Loon have brought to life an important chapter of scientific history - a real achievement.' * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisIf Darwin had one goal with Expression, it was to demonstrate the power of his theories for explaining the origin of our most cherished human qualities: morality and intellect. This book engages some of the hardest questions in the evolution debate, and shows the ever-cautious Darwin at his boldest.Trade Review" He who admits, on general grounds, that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light." -Charles DarwinTable of ContentsThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAcknowledgementsChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingNote on the TextThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAppendix 1: Translation of French quotationsAppendix 2: Darwin's 'Queries About Expression'Appendix 3: List of supplementary imagesIndex

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Book SynopsisBrings together the various discoveries of microbiology. Of interest to general readers, this book provides a view of evolution as a process based on interdependency and their interconnectedness of life on the planet.Trade Review"A luminous prose style. . . . Clear, evocative, and, at its best, dense with realities rather than concepts or opinions, [Microcosmos] grips the serious reader in a way that transcends both science and science journalism." * New York Times Book Review *"Microcosmos is a book for all to read. Although the ideas expressed with such clarity and enthusiasm in this enthralling volume are soundly based on current scientific research they are couched in a language that anyone with a smattering of biology can easily grasp. . . . Microcosmos is a book packed with information and fascinating detail, but all of it to the purpose of demonstrating how life forms are interwoven with each other." * The Ecologist *"A fascinating, engrossing, superbly written account. . . . Makes the story of evolution—including very recent findings—accessible." * Los Angeles Times *"A stunning, complex chronicle . . . proposing that only an understanding of the microcosm from which life sprang can make possible our ultimate leap beyond Earth into a human-devised supercosm." * Publishers Weekly *"First published in 1986, Microcosmos is already regarded as a seminal book in its field." * Hartford Courant *Table of ContentsForeword by Lewis Thomas (1986) Preface (1997) Acknowledgments Introduction: The Microcosm 1. Out of the Cosmos 2. The Animation of Matter 3. The Language of Nature 4. Entering the Microcosm 5. Sex and Worldwide Genetic Exchange 6. The Oxygen Holocaust 7. New Cells 8. Living Together 9. The Symbiotic Brain 10. The Riddle of Sex 11. Late Bloomers: Animals and Plants 12. Egocentric Man 13. The Future Supercosm Notes Index

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Book SynopsisHuman life, and how we came to be, is one of the greatest scientific and philosophical questions of our time. This compact and accessible book presents a modern view of human evolution. Written by a leading authority, it lucidly and engagingly explains not only the evolutionary process, but the technologies currently used to unravel the evolutionary past and emergence of Homo sapiens. By separating the history of palaeoanthropology from current interpretation of the human fossil record, it lays numerous misconceptions to rest, and demonstrates that human evolution has been far from the linear struggle from primitiveness to perfection that we''ve been led to believe. It also presents a coherent scenario for how Homo sapiens contrived to cross a formidable cognitive barrier to become an extraordinary and unprecedented thinking creature. Elegantly illustrated, Understanding Human Evolution is for anyone interested in the complex and tangled story of how we came to be.Trade Review'For years, Ian Tattersall has been the go-to source for the latest facts and interpretations of human evolution. Here, in his clear, pithy style, he brings us up to date on the latest discoveries, weaving them skillfully into a coherent outline of hominid history extending back millions of years. It's all here-from the latest on DNA and radiometric dating of fossils, to the nature and origin of the still-mysterious self-consciousness that is unique to modern humans. A terrific resource and wonderful read!' Niles Eldredge, Curator Emeritus in the Division of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, USA'Ian Tattersall provides in this short and engaging book the story of how humans evolved, and, as importantly, how we have come to learn about our evolutionary history and the nature of being human through great discoveries and great scientific debates.' Robert Foley, Leverhulme Professor of Human Evolution, University of Cambridge, UK'Understanding Human Evolution provides a sweeping overview of the field of human evolution, giving equal attention to the history of the discipline as well as current thoughts and ideas about our attainment of the milestones of human evolution-upright posture and bipedal locomotion, the evolution of tool use, the expansion of the brain and human cognition, the development of language, and the spread of humans out of Africa around the globe. All of this is presented in a concise and accessible package by one of the most well-known popularizers of the field today. This is an excellent resource for anyone looking for an introduction to the fossil evidence for human evolution, as well as those who want to catch up on the current state of knowledge in this fast-moving discipline.' Leslie C. Aiello, FBA, Professor Emerita, University College London, UK'An enjoyable, highly informative, and scholarly read. Tattersall is at his best here. Engaging the reader with his inimitable style, he interprets and explains the convoluted evidence for how we became human. Written largely for the non-specialist, there is much here that will inform and even stimulate professional paleoanthropologists.' Donald Johanson, Founding Director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University, USATable of Contents1. Evolution; 2. Technology: dating, diets, and development; 3. Discovery and interpretation of the human fossil record: the early days; 4. Discovery and interpretation of the human fossil record: more recent developments; 5. Early bipeds; 6. The muddle in the middle; 7. Homo heidelbergensis and the Neanderthals; 8. The emergence and spread of Homo sapiens.

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Book Synopsis''Vivid, thrilling, a delight ... Tim Flannery is a palaeontologist and ecologist of global standing, and this is a compelling and authoritative narrative of the evolution of Europe''s flora and fauna, from the formation of the continent to its near future ... an exciting book, full of wonder'' James McConnachie, Sunday TimesA place of exceptional diversity, rapid change, and high energy, Europe has literally been at the crossroads of the world ever since the interaction of Asia, North America and Africa formed the tropical island archipelago that would become the continent of today.In this unprecedented evolutionary history, Tim Flannery shows how for the past 100 million years Europe has absorbed wave after wave of immigrant species; taking them in, transforming them, and sometimes hybridising them. Flannery reveals how, in addition to playing a vital role in the evolution of our own species, Europe was once the site of the formation of the firstTrade ReviewVivid . . . a compelling and authoritative narrative of the evolution of Europe's flora and fauna . . . an exciting book, full of wonder, affection and hope -- James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *A rich, illuminating journey... Tim Flannery's natural history takes us from the dinosaur's demise 66 million years ago to today * Nature *Unfolds the dazzling array of climates and ecosystems that have emerged in Europe, along with the resultant species that have evolved in and disseminated across it . . . Flannery takes great pleasure in opening up this world of surprises, describing it with verve and wit -- Robert Mayhew * Literary Review *Flannery weaves geology and biology into the history of developing societies and the emergence of conflict, both personal and military -- Tom Cameron * Times Higher Education Supplement *Bold and brilliant evocation of Europes forever vanished yet paradoxically present as engrams beneath our streets, in every landscape feature -- Derek Turner * Irish Times *Thrillingly captured . . . a bold and rich panorama of Europe's ecological history . . . Flannery's superb study shows that Europe is a land of "exceptional dynamism" and resilience * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThis carefully documented exposé of the Intelligent Design (ID) movement contributed to the stunning victory in Federal court of eleven Dover, PA, parents who recognized ID''s threat to public education and religious freedom. Now in paperback, here is Forrest and Gross''s influential work documenting the continuity of intelligent design with traditional creationism. The new text updates ID initiatives in Kansas and Ohio and the movement''s shifting strategies in an attempt to remain viable after its legal undoing in federal court. Anyone who values science and the benefits of life in an enlightened society should know about the Wedge''s political, cultural, and religious ambitions. With a new foreword by Barry Lynn, this updated edition is an essential guide to ID''s continuing threat to public education and the separation of church and state. It is the book to turn to for an inside look at the claims and operations of the ID movement, the most recent manifestation of American creatioTrade Review"Science educators can benefit greatly by understanding creationists' motivations and strategies. These are thoroughly documented in Creationism's Trojan Horse"--SCIENCE"This is the definitive work on modern creationism, an exhaustively detailed and compelling exposure of the attempt--by the well-known process in nature called by biologists "aggressive mimicry"--to corrupt science in the service of sectarian religion. In the process, the book explores the larger and seemingly endless struggle between religion-based tribal values and science-based universal values."--Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Emeritus, Harvard University"Creationism's Trojan Horse documents the disturbing movement to sneak religious dogma back into science education, driven by the vague fear that Americans can't handle the truth. Educators, scientists, and politicians would do well to understand this movement and its tactics, and this book is a superb and timely analysis."--Steven Pinker, Johnston Professor, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and The Blank Slate"Intelligent Design 'theory' (ID) has been well described as Creationism in a cheap Tuxedo. One if its luminaries, we are told, has 'angrily denied that ID is stealth creationism.' He is right. There's no stealth about it. It is Creationism. Unfortunately, ID 'theorists' have a streetwise political professionalism to outweigh the amateurishness of their science, and we therefore cannot ignore them. Barbara Forrest and Paul Gross meticulously document their pretensions, destroy their arguments, and expose their true motivation. An excellent and sadly necessary book."--Richard Dawkins. author of The Selfish Gene"Read an account of the history of Intelligent Design and of the Discovery Institute...You can find a gold mine in Creationism's Trojan Horse"--Phi Delta KappanTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION

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Book SynopsisThis book examines how virtuous behaviors evolved in humans and other species by looking at the adaptive functions moral traits served in early human environments and how they are influenced by social learning, culture, and strategic social interactions in the modern world. This book illuminates how "new brain" mechanisms work in conjunction with "old brain" mechanisms as we make moral choices.Table of ContentsPreface and Overview Chapter 1: The Puzzle of Morality Chapter 2: What is a Moral Animal? PART I: THE EVOLUTION OF MORALITY Chapter 3: Why We are not Selfish by Nature: The Function of Morality Chapter 4: The Evolution of Complex Moral Strategies and Maladaptive Mistakes Chapter 5: The Emergence of Morality Through Strategic Interaction Chapter 6: Primate Morality and the Evolution of Moral Norms Chapter 7: The Cultural Evolution of Morality PART II: PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO MORALITY Chapter 8: Psychological Accounts of Morality Chapter 9: Reframing Psychological Theories of Morality PART III: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SOURCES OF VIRTUE Chapter 10: Self Control Chapter 11: Purity Chapter 12: Respect for Authority Chapter 13: Fairness and Honesty Chapter 14: A Sense of Justice Chapter 15: Biological Sources of Altruism Chapter 16: Psychological Sources of Altruism and Loyalty Chapter 17: Empathy and Altruism Chapter 18: Human Nature and the Nature of Morality

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Book SynopsisIn The Improbable Primate, Clive Finlayson gives a provocative view of human evolution, arguing that the critical factor that shaped us was water. Questioning current accounts of tools and our spread from Africa, he presents an ecological viewpoint.Trade ReviewFinlayson writes in a dry, clear, scholarly style which somehow accentuates the sheer improbability of humanity's long journey * Brandon Robshaw, Independent on Sunday *Table of ContentsPREFACE

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Book SynopsisThis advanced textbook investigates how pathogens shape diversity in plant communities, how features of plant-microbe interactions including host range and mutualism/antagonism evolve, and how biological invasions, climate change, and other agents of global change can drive disease emergence.Trade ReviewThis is a true learning tool. I can't wait to use it in introductory plant pathology courses and to share it with the public when they say, "You're a what? Plant pathologist?" * Alejandra Huerta, Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, USA *Essential reading for students of all levels: from the scientifically curious layperson to the seasoned specialist. * Charles Mitchell, Professor, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA *This treatise is impressive in its comprehensive and understandable introduction to the basic biology of diverse plant pathogens, and the complex interactions that they have with their plant hosts. There is a lot to learn and think about in this book! * Steven E. Lindow, Professor Emeritus, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA *Table of ContentsPreface Part 1: Plant Pathogens and Disease 1: Thinking like a plant disease ecologist 2: How to be a plant 3: How to be a fungus 4: How to be an oomycete 5: How to be a bacterium 6: How to be a virus 7: How to be a macroparasite 8: Types of diseases 9: How to do disease ecology Part 2: Evolutionary Ecology of Plant-Pathogen Symbioses 10: The population ecology of plant disease 11: Spatial ecology 12: Physiology and genetics 13: Evolution 14: Community ecology 15: The plant microbiome 16: Global change 17: Disease management Epilogue

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Book SynopsisConcepts from evolution, ecology, parasitology, and immunology have informed a new synthesis of host-parasite interactions. The book builds on these established approaches whilst including some of the most successful interdisciplinary areas of modern biology - evolutionary epidemiology and ecological immunology.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition ... a wonderful and updated introduction to parasitology, full of fascinating examples and thought-provoking ideas. I think any current researcher in parasitology, or anyone with a slight interest in the field, would undoubtedly benefit from reading at least some of the various topics presented in this book. * Alejandra G. Jaramillo, TREE *Table of Contents1: Parasites and their significance 2: The study of evolutionary parasitology 3: The diversity and natural history of parasites 4: The natural history of defences 5: Ecological immunology 6: Parasites, immunity, and sexual selection 7: Specificity 8: Parasite immune evasion and manipulation of host phenotype 9: Transmission, infection, and pathogenesis 10: Host-parasite genetics 11: Between-host dynamics (epidemiology) 12: Within-host dynamics and evolution 13: Virulence evolution 14: Host-parasite co-evolution 15: Ecology Glossary

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Book SynopsisLife histories can be defined as the means by which individuals (or more precisely genotypes) vary their age- or stage-specific expenditures of reproductive effort in response to genetic, phenotypic, and environmental correlates of survival and fecundity. Life histories reflect the expression of traits most closely related to individual fitness, such as age and size at maturity, number and size of offspring, and the timing of the expression of those traits throughout an individual''s life. In addition to addressing questions of fundamental importance to ecology and evolution, life-history research plays an integral role in species conservation and management. This accessible primer encompasses the basic concepts, theories, and applied elements of life history evolution, including patterns of trait variability, underlying mechanisms of plastic/evolutionary change, and the practical utility of life-history traits as metrics of species/population recovery, sustainable exploitation, and risk of extinction. Empirical examples are drawn from the entire spectrum of life.A Primer of Life Histories is designed for readers from a broad range of academic backgrounds and experience including graduate students and researchers of ecology and evolutionary biology. It will also be useful to a more applied audience of academic/government researchers in fields such as wildlife biology, conservation biology, fisheries science, and the environmental sciences.Trade ReviewThe book does an excellent job of introducing topics in a historical framework giving readers the background for the growth of thinking on the particular topic. By its nature, life-history analysis has a mathematical basis, but Hutchings provides considerable clarity on the mathematical underpinnings while keeping equations to a minimum. * Derek Roff, Quarterly Review of Biology *This book encapsulates the fundamental concepts and empirical research required for a basic but indepth understanding of life history ecology and evolution. * Rev Fish Biol Fisheries *This book encapsulates the fundamental concepts and empirical research required for a basic but indepth understanding of life history ecology and evolution. * Rev Fish Biol Fisheries *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Fundamentals 2: Life-History Variation 3: Genetic Variation and Phenotypic Plasticity 4: Reproductive Effort and Costs 5: Vital Rates 6: Life-History Evolution in a Changing Environment 7: Number and Size of Offspring 8: Alternative Life-Histories 9: Applications: Conservation Biology 10: Applications: Sustainable Exploitation of Evolving Resources

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Book SynopsisAlone in the known universe the Earth glows bright with life, a unique cosmic oasis of biodiversity which is now under threat from our own actions. The Earth is a unique as a living planet, a cosmic oasis drifting in the vastness of barren space. It is strikingly and obviously different from our nearest heavenly neighbours, the Moon, Venus and Mars, in its thin skin of biology, extending from the surface for a few kilometres into the crust, and for a few tens of kilometres into the air. But how did this remarkable abundance and diversity of life arise? How has life survived over the enormous time frame of Earth''s history? And does it continue to flourish now, especially with the growing pressure for space from humans?The Cosmic Oasis examines life on Earth, from our earliest interactions with animals and plants to our absolute domination of biology. It follows our developing understanding of life''s origins, its remarkable complexity, and its interactions with the air, oceans and landTrade ReviewThis book tells an interesting story about our understanding of the natural world. A straightforward discussion of interesting facts about nature, liberally punctuated with historical background and comment, it is easy and enjoyable to read. * Choice *easy and enjoyable to read * M. S. Zavada, CHOICE Reviews *captivating and informative * Jonathan Cowie, The Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation *Table of Contents1: Earthrise 2: A spadeful of Earth 3: The planet in a garden 4: The lost worlds of the giants 5: A bonfire like no other 6: The bite in your hamburger 7: Mirror to the world 8: No country for wild apes Index

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Book SynopsisA Primer of Population Genetics and Genomics has been completely revised and updated to provide a concise but comprehensive introduction to the basic concepts of population genetics and genomics. Recent textbooks have tended to focus on such specialized topics as the coalescent, molecular evolution, human population genetics, or genomics. This primer bucks that trend by encouraging a broader familiarity with, and understanding of, population genetics and genomics as a whole. The overview ranges from mating systems through the causes of evolution, molecular population genetics, and the genomics of complex traits. Interwoven are discussions of ancient DNA, gene drive, landscape genetics, identifying risk factors for complex diseases, the genomics of adaptation and speciation, and other active areas of current research. The principles are illuminated by numerous examples from a wide variety of animals, plants, microbes, and human populations. The approach also emphasizes learning by doing, which in this case means solving numerical or conceptual problems. The rationale behind this is that the use of concepts in problem-solving lead to deeper understanding and longer knowledge retention. This accessible, introductory textbook is aimed principally at students of various levels and abilities (from senior undergraduate to postgraduate) as well as practising scientists in the fields of population genetics, ecology, evolutionary biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, physics, and mathematics.Table of ContentsPreface 1: Genetic Polymorphisms 2: Organization of Genetic Variation 3: Inbreeding and Population Structure 4: Mutation, Gene Conversion, and Migration 5: Natural Selection in Large Populations 6: Random Genetic Drift in Small Populations 7: Molecular Population Genetics 8: Population Genetics of Complex Traits 9: Complex Traits in Natural Populations

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Book SynopsisThe Anthropocene defines the here-and-now time period on Earth of indelible (and possibly irreversible) human disturbance to the natural world, from habitat destruction and mass extinction to global climate change. To ameliorate and repair the damage that threatens the world''s dwindling resources and our very existence, humanity is enacting massive interventions to fuse modern technologies with long established natural processes. Advances in genetic engineering have put us on the cusp of directly shaping the DNA of every living organism (including ourselves), as well as determining the evolution of completely novel species. The author invites the reader to explore how humans have manipulated the ancient forces of evolution and the future possibilities of genetic engineering for conservation and rewilding, de-extinction, and even the creation of viable populations of entirely new species. To entertain such possibilities of synthetic biology, he forces us to wrestle with the threats and ethical conundrums that surround the unintended consequences, as well as the values that humanity places on authenticity in nature. In so doing, this accessible and thought-provoking book explores the potential future of life on planet Earth.Trade ReviewCutter presents us with a wonderfully stimulating book, elegantly weaving in personal narratives, natural history examples, and inspiring thought experiments. * Mohamed Noor, Professor of Biology and Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Duke University *This book is a must-read for anyone curious about the potential of genetic technologies to control the very fate of nature, itself. And if you happen to be someone who wants to build a dragon from scratch, then it's a good book for you, too! * Daniel Riskin, Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto Mississauga, TV Host, and Producer *An excellent primer for anyone hoping to understand how today's biotechnologies - and the way we choose to use them - have the power to change all of life on Earth. * Beth Shapiro, Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz. Author of How to Clone a Mammoth and Life As We Made It *A highly enjoyable and thought-provoking book about the ways in which timeless biological processes and ever more powerful human tinkering are, together, shaping the evolutionary future. * Rob Dunn, Professor, North Carolina State University *Very well written, this book contributes to the understanding of genetic editing and the significant changes that may result from it. Essential. All readership levels. * Choice *Table of ContentsPreface Part 1: The Hearts of Nature 1: Nature in the raw, and cooked 2: Selection, naturally and otherwise 3: Ancient forces 4: Evolution's racetracks 5: Evolutionary accelerants and speed bumps 6: Carjacking genetics 7: Genetic welding 8: On the origin of species 9: Do-it-yourself speciation 10: Ongoing evolutionary outcomes Part 2: Evolutionary Futures 11: How to evolve a dragon 12: Evolutionary engineering in the flesh 13: Nature, rewilded 14: When nature comes to call 15: Inspection by the department of health, safety, and ethics 16: When we become dragons 17: A midnight coterie of transcendent fauna

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Book SynopsisLiberating Science: The Early Universe, Evolution and the Public Voice of Science is a presentation of science for the general reader, with an emphasis on correcting widely held misconceptions, and a call to liberate science from ''private ownership'' in cultural terms.Quantum fields and the physics of the early universe are described in non-technical language, showing what science can and cannot say about origins. Darwinian evolution is then discussed, giving due weight both to variation and to the constraints which shape the possible outcomes.The text provides a liberating view of what science is telling us about the natural world and offers the next generation a balanced and liberating view of their own moral stature.Table of Contents1: A candid friend 2: What is a quantum field? 3: Quantum fluctuation? 4: The vacuum as a dynamical system 5: The very early Universe 6: Nothing comes of nothing 7: Rubble and randomness 8: What science can and cannot do 9: Science, science fiction and the multiverse 10: Could it simply be? 11: Religious imagery 12: Sinking the selfish gene 13: The magician's box 14: Stepping out 15: Angels with dirty faces 16: Science and sensibility 17: Great is the power of steady misrepresentation 18: Fruit pie 19: Contemporary thought and evolution 20: Brightland 21: Getting past Brightland

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Book SynopsisExamines the theory and methods of quantitative genetics and presents case studies that illustrate the many ways in which the methods can be applied. The author brings together current theoretical and empirical studies to show how quantitative genetics can illuminate diverse topics.Table of ContentsContents Preface Introduction 1 Outlining the Issues, Christine R. B. Boake Quantitative Genetic Theory in Relation to Behavioral Evolution 2 Multivariate Inheritance and Evolution: A Review of Concepts, Stevan J. Arnold 3 Optimality Modeling and Quantitative Genetics: A Comparison of the Two Approaches, Derek A. Roff 4 Quantitative Genetics and the Role of the Environment Provided by Relatives in Behavioral Evolution, James M. Cheverud and Allen J. Moore 5 Quantitative Genetic Models of the Evolution of Mating Behavior, I. Lorraine Heisler 6 Genetic and Nongenetic Approaches to Questions about Sexual Selection, Linda Partridge Applications of Quantitative Genetics to Studies of Behavioral Evolution in Natural Populations 7 Genetic Analyses of Animal Migration, Hugh Dingle 8 Size-Dependent Behavioral Variation and Its Genetic Control within and among Populations, Joseph Travis 9 Genetic Analysis of Territoriality in _Drosophila melanogaster_, Ary A. Hoffman 10 Genetic Analysis of Cannibalism Behavior in _Tribolium_ Flour Beetles, Lori Stevens 11 The Heritability of Mate-Attractive Traits: A Case Study on Field Crickets, Ann V. Hedrick 12 Quantitative Genetics of Locomotor Behavior and Physiology in a Garter Snake, Theodore Garland, Jr. 13 Evolutionary Inferences from Genetic Analyses of Cold Adaptation in Laboratory and Wild Populations of the House Mouse, Carol Becker Lynch Conclusions 14 Evaluation of Applications of the Theory and Methods of Quantitative Genetics to Behavioral Evolution, Christine R. B. Boake

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