Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books

Book SynopsisA new, fully updated edition of David Attenborough's groundbreaking Life on Earth.David Attenborough's unforgettable meeting with gorillas became an iconic moment for millions of television viewers. Life on Earth, the series and accompanying book, fundamentally changed the way we view and interact with the natural world setting a new benchmark of quality, influencing a generation of nature lovers.Told through an examination of animal and plant life, this is an astonishing celebration of the evolution of life on earth, with a cast of characters drawn from the whole range of organisms that have ever lived on this planet. Attenborough's perceptive, dynamic approach to the evolution of millions of species of living organisms takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of discovery from the very first spark of life to the blue and green wonder we know today.To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the book's first publication, David Attenborough revisited Life on Earth, completely updating andTrade Review‘It does not disappoint. The new Life on Earth is as glorious as the first’Guardian ‘A beautiful and wide ranging work. The breadth of natural history covered is extraordinary and mesmerising. Life on Earth is still breathtakingly rich, and we would know far less about it were it not for Attenborough’s wonderful skills of communication over the years: our cultural and scientific lives would be poorer without him’New Scientist ‘This natural history masterpiece offers a spectacular snapshot of a once-wild planet’New Scientist

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Book SynopsisAn 'entertaining and enlightening' deep dive into the alcohol-soaked origins of civilization—and the evolutionary roots of humanity's appetite for intoxication (Daniel E. Lieberman, author of Exercised).While plenty of entertaining books have been written about the history of alcohol and other intoxicants, none have offered a comprehensive, convincing answer to the basic question of why humans want to get high in the first place.Drunk elegantly cuts through the tangle of urban legends and anecdotal impressions that surround our notions of intoxication to provide the first rigorous, scientifically-grounded explanation for our love of alcohol. Drawing on evidence from archaeology, history, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, social psychology, literature, and genetics, Drunk shows that our taste for chemical intoxicants is not an evolutionary mistake, as we are so often told. In fact, intoxication helps solve a number of distinctively human challenges: enhancing creativity, alleviating stress, building trust, and pulling off the miracle of getting fiercely tribal primates to cooperate with strangers. Our desire to get drunk, along with the individual and social benefits provided by drunkenness, played a crucial role in sparking the rise of the first large-scale societies. We would not have civilization without intoxication.From marauding Vikings and bacchanalian orgies to sex-starved fruit flies, blind cave fish, and problem-solving crows, Drunk is packed with fascinating case studies and engaging science, as well as practical takeaways for individuals and communities. The result is a captivating and long overdue investigation into humanity's oldest indulgence—one that explains not only why we want to get drunk, but also how it might actually be good for us to tie one on now and then. 

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Book SynopsisAnimal behavior expert Daniel T. Blumstein delves into the evolutionary origins and diverse ecological contexts of fear. Fear protects organisms from threats, but at a cost in health and productivity. The various species manage these costs differently, providing lessons for humans as we seek to benefit from fear without succumbing to panic.Trade ReviewClearly, The Nature of Fear is a book for this moment. Dread is all around, manifold and constant during the coronavirus pandemic, of course. But a particular theme of our escalating anxieties comes to the fore with Blumstein’s book in hand: the fear of belonging to nature…As the pandemic brings into focus our biological fragility, the time seems apt to examine the nature of human fear through the lens of, well, nature. * The Atlantic *A revelatory and masterful work by the world’s authority on fear in animal societies. Blumstein focuses the lenses of animal behavior and evolution on very human anxieties and fears. The result is a beautifully written book rich in crucial insights, with salience for scientists, students, policy makers, and every human being navigating their way through our sometimes frightening world. -- Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, coauthor of Wildhood and ZoobiquityBlumstein has studied fear in the animal kingdom for more than 30 years. In this highly readable book, he explains how related insights can help us do everything from composing scary music to managing biodiversity and imposing effective public health measures…Embrace your fears, and give it a read! * BBC Wildlife *The Nature of Fear’s main province is the fluttering pulse-rates of the broader animal kingdom, and that makes for mind-changing reading. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Review *This terrific book is a reminder that when we are afraid, we are not alone. Lizards have fear. Mice have fear. Marmots have fear. This feeling is ancient, and for many millions of years, it has guided animals’ actions. If you want to understand the roots of fear, and also make more sense of your own life, read this book. -- Rob Dunn, author of Never Home AloneBlumstein shows us how fear can be a positive force. When equipped with the knowledge of fear’s origin, we have a blueprint for conquering it. Informed by animals and evolution, The Nature of Fear is a biological thriller that everyone needs to read. -- Brian Hare, coauthor of The Genius of DogsIn this lively and informative book, Blumstein takes the study of fear from the laboratory into the wild to emphasize the costs and benefits of fear responses and their evolution. This novel approach has much to offer as we try to understand the origin of our own fears. -- Guy Beauchamp, author of Animal Vigilance: Monitoring Predators and CompetitorsIn this fascinating book, Daniel Blumstein explores the causes and consequences of fear for human and nonhuman animals, providing important insights into the ways that we all recognize and cope with risks in the course of our daily lives. -- Tim Clutton-Brock, author of Mammal SocietiesThe feature making this project most compelling is the thesis that fear can be chronic, inappropriate, and very costly…An enjoyable book. -- James Chadwick Johnson * Quarterly Review of Biology *In this slim but packed book, Daniel Blumstein explores many facets of an emotion all animals feel: fear in all its different faces, broadening the discussion in ways that will challenge readers to re-examine the values of a trauma nobody likes. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Review *

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Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolutionfrom the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequalityand revealing new possibilities for human emancipation.For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlikeeither free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a conservative reaction to powerful critiques of European society posed by Indigenous observers and intellectuals. Revisiting this encounter has startling implications for how we make sense of human history today, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democ

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Book SynopsisExplains how the human head works, and why our heads evolved in this peculiarly human way. This book documents how the many components of the head function, how they evolved since we diverged from the apes, and how they interact in diverse ways both functionally and developmentally, causing them to be highly integrated.Trade ReviewLieberman's integrated approach will make his book a forum for a way of thinking in human evolution that has not yet found its equal in print. -- Christopher Dean, University College LondonThis is an outstanding book. Lieberman draws from a wide variety of disciplines, including bone biology, embryology, morphometrics, functional anatomy, and paleontology to forge a masterful synthesis of the evolution of the human head. It will be the definitive reference for decades. * John G. Fleagle, Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University *Lieberman offers acute descriptions of anatomy, embryology, physiology, and hominid fossils, while providing an exciting way to observe the relationships among structures, functions, and evolutionary variance. -- Scott Vieira * Library Journal *Lieberman dives deep into the cranium, showing just how much of what we consider to be human is connected to what happens above the neck. -- Carolyn Y. Johnson * Boston Globe *Daniel Lieberman has written a wonderful and inspiring book about the human head's evolution...One stands in awe at the work that has gone into it...This encyclopedic book is transformative...The morphological details in Lieberman's book make it a direct descendant of Gray's Anatomy...If a single word describes this book, it is integrative. The author integrates material from anatomy, physiology, physics, biomechanics, molecular and developmental biology, but brings all under the umbrella of evolutionary theory. -- Chris McManus * Times Higher Education *This [is an] impressive book...This hefty and well-written book offers a scholarly breadth and attention to detail that are certainly laudable. The book is quite unusual in that it includes a comprehensive review of the soft tissues associated with cranial features and discusses them within the context of evolutionary morphology and the fossil record of the human skull. I can think of no other volume that packages the anatomy of the human head in this fashion...Lieberman's big book definitely moves us ahead in effectively synthesizing so much of what is currently understood about the structure, function and evolution of the human head. -- Brian T. Shea * American Scientist *By rooting his study in the basics of tissue mechanics and functional morphology, Lieberman does the spadework to which all such studies aspire but few achieve--and makes that task seem elegant and effortless. -- Henry Gee * Nature *Daniel Lieberman marshals diverse evidence to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding patterns of variation and covariation in the form, function, and phylogeny of the human head...The breadth and diversity of subject matter the volume will impart to the reader is particularly laudable. Lieberman's holistic approach is a welcome, if not requisite, strategy for addressing a multifarious biological system such as the human head. The book's focus on both hard- and soft-tissue components, consideration of how such elements correspond to one another, and comprehensive overview of external and internal influences on patterns of morphological variation and covariation clearly set the tone for how one might profitably investigate cranial evolution across all vertebrates. The introductions to myriad biological concepts, surveys of some modern approaches to outstanding paleoanthropological questions, and review of fossil evidence regarding evolutionary transformations in human skull form will enlighten readers of all backgrounds. The Evolution of the Human Head is an entertaining read...It contains a wealth of information relevant to human evolution. In doing so, it offers a wonderful entrée into many of the outstanding issues that will undoubtedly remain at the center of debates regarding human origins for years to come. -- Matthew J. Ravosa * Science *

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Book SynopsisWith this volume, Hal Whitehead gives us a clearer picture of the ecology and social life of sperm whales than we have ever had before. Of interest to animal behaviourists, conservationists, biologists, as well as marine mammalogists.

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Book SynopsisWalter Isaacson’s #1 New York Times bestselling history of our third scientific revolution: CRISPR, gene editing, and the quest to understand the code of life itself, is now adapted for young readers!When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix, James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life. This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in biochemistry: figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves. Doudna became an expert in determining the shapes and structures of these RNA molecules—an expertise that led her to develop a revolutionary new technique that could edit human genes. Today gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are already being used to eliminate simple genetic defects that cause disorders such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. For now, however, Jennifer and her team are being deployed against our most immediate threat—the coronavirus—and you have just been given a front row seat to that race.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a synthetic overview of all evidence concerning the evolution of the morphology of the human pelvis, including comparative anatomy, clinical and experimental studies, and quantitative evolutionary models. By integrating these lines of research, this is the first book to bring all sources of evidence together to develop a coherent statement about the current state of the art in understanding pelvic evolution. Second, and related to this, the volume is the first detailed assessment of existing paradigms about the evolution of the pelvis, especially the obstetric dilemma. The authors argue that there are many ''dilemmas'', but these must be approached using a testable methodology, rather than on the proviso of a single paradigm. The volume clearly contributes to greater scientific knowledge about human variation and evolution, and has implications for clinicians working within reproductive health. A thought-provoking read for students, researchers and professionals in tTrade Review'The human pelvis is a lens through which so many questions about our evolutionary history can be asked and answered - from the way we enter this world, to the way we walk through it. Three of the world's leading experts on the evolution of the pelvis have joined forces to write the definitive book on the anatomy, variation, development and evolution of a bone that has been central to the human story. Through concise writing, current research and clear illustrations, the authors write a coherent tale about a complicated bone, challenging many long-held beliefs along the way. I devoured this book and, like any great book, it left me with more questions than answers. It is sure to be the starting point for any scholar interested in the evolution of our pelvis and the launching point for all future research on this fascinating and still poorly understood bone.' Jeremy DeSilva, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire'Understanding of human pelvic evolution has increased dramatically as the fossil record has grown substantially. In this scholarly tour de force, Wall-Scheffler, Kurki and Auerbach pull together knowledge of the pelvis in an excellent synthesis examining data and conclusions from biomechanics, kinematics, fossil evidence, developmental biology, evolutionary theory and beyond. They identify multiple sources of selection on the pelvis, including locomotion, obstetrics, thermoregulation and body size, explicating how developmental, genetic, epi-genetic and evolutionary forces interact to determine pelvic morphology(ies) in living people. They recognise that essentialising childbirth has limited understanding of how anatomy influences obstetrical experiences. Thus, they are appreciative of past and present human variation in pelvic morphology, birth mechanism, body shape and locomotor pattern, realising that ignoring variation masks important patterns critical for understanding. This synthetic book is essential reading for anyone studying human skeletal anatomy, and sets an agenda for future studies of human pelvic evolution.' Karen Rosenberg, University of Delaware'This volume presents a comprehensive review of the anatomy, functional morphology, evolution, growth and development, and variation of the human pelvis. The individual chapters and extensive up-to-date bibliography provide an excellent resource and reference for students interested in forensic anthropology, human evolution, and comparative anatomy. The contents may be familiar to seasoned experts in human skeleton biology, but it is always welcome to have a synthesis of the latest research on this topic in a single volume.' T. Harrison, ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface; Introduction; 1. Pelvis anatomy; 2. Functional morphology; 3. Pelves of the hominin lineage; 4. Developmental biology of the pelvis; 5. Pelvis evolution as a function of evolutionary development; Conclusion; Appendix; Works cited; Index.

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

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a wonderful book. In it Eberhard explores the mechanical and evolutionary aspects of spider webs from all sides. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs of webs appearing throughout. Each chapter has a down-to-earth summary that repeats the main points of the chapter. Eberhard is not afraid to rail against the many errors that infect previous work on spiders and webs, including adultophilia (the tendency to ignore the webs of juvenile spiders), typology (the eagerness to describe 'the' spider and its web when in reality there are many variations in the webs of any one species), and many more shortcomings. But by far the strength of the book is Eberhard's ability to tell his readers what is needed on topics A to Z if we are to test hypotheses further. This willingness to lay out predictions that are derived from particular hypotheses on puzzling behaviors that have not been checked makes the book a gold mine for students of spider webs and indeed for all animal behaviorists."--John Alcock, Arizona State University, author of "Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach" "There is only one comparable book on this topic that was published over thirty years ago, and it is not comprehensive. Eberhard's book is an extensive, encyclopedic review of what is known (and unknown) about spider webs today. It also provides many original observations from Eberhard himself."--Rainer F. Foelix, author of "Biology of Spiders" "Spider Webs provides both an authoritative and unique synthesis of research and still-to-be-addressed questions on spider web biology. There is no one better equipped to write a book on this subject than Eberhard. It will be a major contribution to the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavior, providing new information, new syntheses, and new insights on a broad range of topics."--Brent Opell, Virginia Tech "A comprehensive book on all aspects of spider webs is long overdue, and Eberhard is one of the few biologists--if not the only one--who has the knowledge, passion, and expertise to write such a book. Very thorough and detailed, Spider Webs is of great importance to specialists in its field, especially since it not only summarizes previously published studies, but also presents new ideas and views on structure, construction, function, and evolution of spider webs and their (potential) relevance to many different fields of biology."--Samuel Zschokke, University of Basel, SwitzerlandTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 A foreign world: life tied to silk lines 1.3 A brief history of spider web studies 1.4 Emphasis on behavior 1.5 The scope of this book and tactics in presentation 1.6 Evolutionary history and phylogeny 1.7 Terminology and other procedural matters 1.8 Acknowledgments Chapter 2. The “hardware” of web-building spiders: morphology, silk, and behavior 2.1. Introduction 2.2 Silk glands and silk 2.3 Spinnerets as high-precision instruments 2.4 Leg morphology and behavior: grasping lines precisely and securely 2.5 Cutting lines and recycling silk 2.6 How spiders avoid adhering to their own webs: a mystery partly solved 2.7 Central nervous system basis for web construction 2.8 Summary Chapter 3. Functions of orb web designs 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Correcting common misconceptions about orb webs 3.3 How orbs function 3.4 Summary Chapter 4. Putting pieces together: tradeoffs and remaining puzzles 4.1 Introduction 4.2 “Optimal” orb designs: tradeoffs between functions are difficult to measure 4.3 “Multiple trap” design: a new way to view orb webs 4.4 Tensions and stresses 4.5 Relative numbers of radii and sticky spiral loops 4.6 Testing visibility and stopping functions: the extreme case of trunk orbs 4.7 Correlations between spider size and orb design? 4.8 Spider positions, attack behavior, and up-down asymmetries in orbs 4.9 Remaining puzzles 4.10 Non-orb webs 4.11 Evolutionary responses by insects? A neglected aspect of prey capture 4.12 Summary (including part of chapter 3) Chapter 5. The building behavior of non-orb weavers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Order of lines and other higher-level patterns5.3 Lower-level patterns: leg movements and manipulation of lines5.4 Stereotyped behavior in non-orb construction5.5 Adjustments to substrate-imposed constraints 5.6 Managing swaths of fine lines 5.7 SummaryBox 5.1 The funnel web diplurid Linothele macrothelifera Chapter 6. The building behavior of orb-weavers 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Simplifications for smoother reading 6.3 Behavior of two araneids 6.4 Senility in orb construction: a new frontier? 6.5 Detailed movements 6.6 General patterns 6.7 Summary Chapter 7. Cues directing web construction behavior 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Classifying the cues 7.3 Cues for sticky spiral construction 7.4 Temporary spiral 7.5 Hub 7.6 Stabilimentum construction 7.7 Radii, frames, and anchor lines 7.8 Early radii, and frames and anchor lines: determining web size, shape, and design 7.9 To build or not to build: triggering orb construction and destruction 7.10 Cues that trigger transitions between stages of orb construction 7.11 Other stimuli that spiders can sense but that are not (yet) known to guide orb construction 7.12 Hints of abilities: follow circular paths and sense radius lengths 7.13 Effects of psychotropic drugs on orb construction 7.14 Coordinating different adjustments to different cues 7.15 The (limited) role of simulations in understanding orb construction behavior 7.16 A missing link: translating cues into attachment sites 7.17 Summarizing the behavioral challenges met by orb weavers 7.18 Independence (?) of the spider’s responses 7.19 Changes in responses to cues: learning and maturation 7.20 Cues guiding the construction of non-orbs 7.21 Summary Chapter 8. Web ecology and website selection 8.1 Introduction: what is and is not included 8.2 Webs and ecological foraging theories 8.3 What is enough? “Fast lane” and “slow lane” spiders 8.4 Processes that produce habitat biases 8.5 A general correlation between website selectivity and web design flexibility? 8.6 Website tenacity, web durability, and recycling 8.7 Web durability 8.8 Limited by websites? Possible competition for prey and websites 8.9 Problems in attempts to study cues that guide website choices 8.10 Time of day: day webs vs. night webs 8.11 Summary Chapter 9. Evolutionary patterns: an ancient success that produced high diversity and rampant convergence 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Patterns in the diversity of webs 9.3 Consequences of the failure of the prey specialist hypothesis for understanding diversity and convergence 9.4 What is a sheet web? Problems inherited from previous imprecision 9.5 Mygalomorphs: similar patterns of diversity and rampant convergence in a different world 9.6 Diversity of relations with insects 9.7 Lack of miniaturization effects 9.8 Paths not followed: alternative web forms in other animals 9.9 Summary and a new synthesis Box 9.1 The most spectacular convergence of all: Fecenia Box 9.2 The most spectacular divergence of all: Theridiidae Box 9.3 Sand castles: extreme modifications of Seothyra henscheli webs to shifting sand Box 9.4 Relation between web design and silk properties: stiff silk in Uroctea durandi Chapter 10. Ontogeny, modularity, and the evolution of web building 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Web ontogeny and evolution 10.3 Early web evolution 10.4 The behavior patterns used to build early webs 10.5 Evolution of later non-orb webs 10.6 Inconsistent evolutionary trends in non-orb webs 10.7 Diversity in non-orbs that results from behavioral stability 10.8 The (probably) monophyletic origin of orb webs 10.9 Evolutionary changes in orb designs 10.10 “Post-orb” web evolution in Orbiculariae 10.11 Coevolution between attack behavior and web design (and its lack) 10.12 What didn’t happen, possible synapomorphies, and further puzzles 10.13 Modularity and adaptive flexibility 10.14 Modules and evolutionary transitions in web-building behavior 10.15 Summary References Index

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Book SynopsisChallenging the common gene-centric approach to organisms, this book articulates a relativistic theory of biology. It is grounded in up-to-date biological research and rigorous application of mathematics to biology; however, it is presented in a non-technical manner for the general reader, and requires no familiarity with complex biology, mathematics or philosophy.Trade Review'Among its many merits, this remarkable book deserves to become a classic text in the philosophy of science. Almost alone among philosophers of science, Noble is a practising scientist; and unusually among practising scientists, he is an accomplished philosopher. His book brings out, with unparalleled clarity, how the scientific endeavour involves not only empirical inquiry but also conceptual structure. Noble shows how, on the negative side, popular presentations of sound biological results may be vitiated by bad metaphysics, and how, on the positive side, science and philosophy may extend the boundaries of knowledge by a unified epistemology. He ends, however, with a salutary warning that there may well be a limit to the human capacity to know the answers to ultimate questions.' Sir Anthony Kenny, University of Oxford'I think this a marvellous book. Denis Noble emphasises that genes, organs and systems dance to the tune of the organism and its social and physical environment. He sets the relativity of biology in a remarkable scientific sweep, ranging from cosmology to human belief systems. He reminds me of another great biologist, C. H. Waddington, to whom Noble pays handsome tribute. Writing with clarity and charm, Noble attempts to break down silos of knowledge inhabited by scientists who fail to come out and engage with others. … Broadening minds in an era of intense specialisation is more important than ever. Noble deserves to be successful in his desire to do just that and I hope that he will be.' Sir Patrick Bateson, University of Cambridge'In my view Dance to The Tune of Life is a 'must read'. In it Denis Noble lucidly deconstructs how and why reductionism came to prominence in biology and led to the current state of molecular Humpty-Dumptyism. His central idea that there is no privileged level of causation is the first conceptual step to putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.' Michael J. Joyner, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota'Denis Noble is renowned for his mission to reintegrate the physiological sciences with mainstream biology, including evolutionary theory. His new book combines clear exposition of basic principles with many valuable examples. He gives the reader, general or expert, a completely new view of life.' Yung E. Earm, Seoul National University, South Korea'Dance to the Tune of Life is one of the most fascinating and impressive books I have ever read. Denis Noble, a world-renowned physiologist and systems biologist, has revolutionized our traditional notion of the nature of life. The title Dance to the Tune of Life mirrors the essence of the argument of the book. The life emerges from numerous biological processes at different scales and levels. Such actors and actresses, stage properties, and stage are not separately present they act together in harmony, dancing to a tune with a music performed by an orchestra, an organism. By describing his research experiences and achievements on the cardiac rhythm evolutionary biology, medicine, and philosophy, Denis has not only provided us with very modern knowledge of the biological reactions and their network but also described to us the nature of life. I believe that this book impacts everyone involved in biomedicine.' Yoshihisa Kurachi, Osaka University, Japan'Having demolished the 'Selfish Gene' fiction, Noble in this marvelous book moves both science and philosophy from an antiquated 'either/or' static model to an 'and' model. 'Dance' shows elegantly and brilliantly that from the miracle of the ancient symbiosis of mitochondrial bacterial remnants in human cells, through the rock-solid interrelationship between genes and the feedback from the environment in all senses - from the core phenomenon of functional epigenetics, to the universe itself and our place in it - that we are, at heart, inter-beings, co-arising.' Samuel Shem, New York University'Denis Noble is a pioneer in understanding human physiology through quantitative studies linking behaviour across multiple scales of biological organization - from proteins to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems. These studies have led him to characterize biological function in terms of a Principle of Biological Relativity: there is no privileged level of causation in biology, because living organisms are multilevel open stochastic systems in which the behaviour at any level depends on higher and lower levels, and so cannot be fully understood in isolation. This engaging book defends this view in depth, and thereby also provides strong support for an extended synthesis of evolutionary theory that goes beyond the Modern Synthesis of Neo-Darwinism. It is highly recommended as a thoughtful study of the kind of complexity real living organisms display.' George Ellis FRS, University of Cape Town, South Africa'In this elegantly written and personal book world-renowned physiologist and systems biologist Denis Noble effectively argues for a fundamental revision of the theory of evolution. Against the reductionist, gene-centered approach of Neo-Darwinism, which has dominated biology for more than a century, Noble passionately pleas for a more integrated approach. Massively supported by recent postgenomic and epigenetic empirical research, Dance to the Tune of Life deepens and synthesizes ideas Noble earlier developed in The Music of Life. Biology beyond the Genome (2006) and subsequent writings. Just like Newtonian physics underwent a major transformation in the beginning of the 20th century due to Einstein's general theory of relativity, the life sciences are facing a no less fundamental transformation. Noble's book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand this transformation.' Jos de Mul, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands'… enlightening … The illustrations are both vibrant and clarifying, giving this title a sparkle that compels you to imagine how each concept fits into the larger scheme. I commend this author for relishing the subtle reminders of what makes this inquiry important. It's a best read.' D. Wayne Dworsky, San Francisco Book Review (www.sanfranciscobookreview.com)'… a very informative read … Noble's Dance to the Tune of Life is an illuminating account of why philosophy is necessary in doing science.' Sepehr Ehsani, Metascience'The narrative is remarkable … Dance to the Tune of Life is a marvellous text reflecting on the complexity of biology.' Anna Holderbaum, The BiologistTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgments; 1. The universe and the principle of relativity; 2. Biological scales and levels; 3. Biological networks; 4. Nature and origin of cells; 5. Blind chance and natural selection; 6. Biological relativity; 7. Dancing nucleotides: natural genetic engineering; 8. Epigenetics and a relativistic theory of evolution; 9. The relativity of epistemology: the meaning of it all; 10. Postscript; Glossary; Index.

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Book SynopsisHistorians of science have long noted the influence of the nineteenth-century political economist Thomas Robert Malthus on Charles Darwin. This book reveals that two evolutionary and political traditions developed in England in the wake of the 1832 Reform Act: one Malthusian, the other decidedly anti-Malthusian.Trade Review"In his exploration of the crucial role of Malthusian thought in the evolutionary theory of liberal radicalism, Hale has provided scholars with a sort of sequel to Adrian Desmond's Politics of Evolution. Impressive in its scope, Political Descent is a bold and exciting book." (Bernard Lightman, editor of Victorian Science in Context)"

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Book SynopsisIn just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we''ve learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With wide-ranging erudition, de Duve takes us on a dazzling tour of the biological world, beginning with the invisible workings of the cell, the area in which he won his Nobel Prize. He describes how the first cells may have arisen and suggests that they may have been like the organisms that exist today near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Contrary to many other scientists, he argues that life was bound to arise and that it probably only took millennia--maybe tens of thousands of years--to move from rough building blocks to the first organisms possessing the basic properties of life. With equal authority, De Duve examines topics such as the evolution of humans, the origins of consciousness, the developmentTrade Review"A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University "A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. What is Life? (a: Chemistry) ; 2. What is Life? (b: Information) ; 3. Where Does Life Come From? ; 4. How Did Life Arise? (a: The Way to RNA) ; 5. How Did Life Arise? (b: From RNA to Protein-DNA) ; 6. How Did Life Arise? (c: The Birth of Cells) ; 7. The History of Life ; 8. The Invisible World of Bacteria ; 9. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (a: The Problem) ; 10. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (b: A Possible Pathway) ; 11. The Visible Revolution ; 12. The Arrow of Evolution ; 13. Becoming Human ; 14. The Riddle of the Brain ; 15. Reshaping Life ; 16. After Us, What? ; 17. Are We Alone? ; 18. How About God in All That?

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Book SynopsisThe definitive textbook for paleoanthropology courses.Table of ContentsEXTENSIVE, CAREFULLY CHOSEN ART PROGRAMA generous, carefully constructed art program (with figures, tables, and photographs with captions) helps students master this complex material. The art program has been thoroughly updated for the new edition, including new easily accessible reference charts inside the front cover summarizing Plio-Pleistocene stratigraphic information, time scale, and paleomagnetic stratigraphy.

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Book SynopsisWith detractors ranging from paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould to modern-day creationists and advocates of intelligent design, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) is better known as a divisive figure than as a pioneering biologist. This biography rehabilitates Haeckel - focusing on his science and art. It also gives an account of Haeckel's eventful life.Trade Review"This is a brilliant book.... It is intellectually brilliant, offering an account of Haeckel as driven by tragic failures in love that colored his view of life. And the book is brilliant scholarship, drawing on a wide range of sources to paint a quite different picture of Haeckel's work than other scholars have achieved." - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences "An excellent, well-illustrated, and scholarly biography of Haeckel." - Andrew Robinson, Financial Times "The Tragic Sense of Life is an immensely impressive work of biography and intellectual history, and a fitting testament to a complex and contradictory character.... Richards succeeds brilliantly in reestablishing Haeckel as a significant scientist and a major figure in the history of evolutionary thought." - P. D. Smith, Times Literary Supplement"

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Book SynopsisThis strategy, derived from Newtonian mechanism, is embodied in reductionism: break what is complicated into simpler pieces, understand the pieces themselves, and reconstruct organisms from this understanding. In Life Itself, Robert Rosen argues that such a view is neither necessary nor sufficient to answer the question.Table of Contents1. Prolegomenon 2. Strategic Considerations: The Special and the General 3. Some Necessary Epistemological Considerations 4. The Concept of State 5. Entailment Without States: Relational Biology 6. Analytic and Synthetic Models 7. On Simulation 8. Machines and Mechanisms 9. Relational Theory of Machines 10. Life Itself: The Preliminary Steps 11. Relational Biology and Biology

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Book SynopsisAdam Wilkins draws on studies of nonhuman species, the fossil record, genetics, and molecular and developmental biology to reconstruct the evolution of the human face and its inextricable link to our species' evolving social complexity. The neural and muscular mechanisms that allowed facial expressions also led to speech, which is unique to humans.Trade ReviewMaking Faces makes faces fascinating by opening a window onto an intriguing biological landscape. Lucid accounts of the roles played by genes, bones, muscle, and brain foreshadow provocative questions about race, sex, and psychology. Wilkins’s elegant account is a guide not only to what we see in the mirror, but also to the latest and the best in human evolution. -- Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us HumanMaking Faces is a highly readable account of how and why the human face is the way it is. Wilkins lucidly weaves together over a century of research on the development, anatomy, and evolution with new provocative ideas. -- Daniel E. Lieberman, author of The Evolution of the Human HeadTracing our evolutionary history back to the emergence of the first vertebrates some 500 million years ago, Wilkins pairs biological and genetic studies with the archaeological record to examine how humans developed the most expressive faces in the animal kingdom. It was an intriguing transformation that also provided the foundation for someof our species’ unique characteristics, including the neural and muscular mechanisms necessary for speech, the cognitive ability to interpret emotional responses, and thereby sociability and culture. The book…gives a truly fresh appreciation of the wonders of the human face—even if they are still lost on us first thing in the morning. -- Nicholas Bartos * Current World Archaeology *This engaging and highly readable book offers a lucid account of the diverse areas of ‘scientific investigation’ that have shaped contemporary understanding of the evolution of the human face…[It] will appeal to any individual with an interest in human evolution and biology. -- T. Harrison * Choice *

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Book SynopsisMeta-analysis is a powerful statistical methodology for synthesizing research evidence across independent studies. This is the first comprehensive handbook of meta-analysis written specifically for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, and it provides an invaluable introduction for beginners as well as an up-to-date guide for experienced meta-anaTrade Review"[T]his is a comprehensive and up-to-date compendium of all relevant aspects for meta-analysis conduction in ecology, evolution, and related topics. Scientists from these areas who already have some knowledge on meta-analysis will find valuable guidance."--Daniela Vetter, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface xi SECTION I: Introduction & Planning 1.Place of Meta-analysis among Other Methods of Research Synthesis 3 Julia Koricheva & Jessica Gurevitch 2.The Procedure of Meta-analysis in a Nutshell 14 Isabelle M. Cote & Michael D. Jennions SECTION II : Initiating a Meta-analysis 3.First Steps in Beginning a Meta-analysis 27 Gavin B. Stewart, Isabelle M. Cote, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Peter S. Curtis 4.Gathering Data: Searching Literature & Selection Criteria 37 Isabelle M. Cote, Peter S. Curtis, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 5.Extraction & Critical Appraisal of Data 52 Peter S. Curtis, Kerrie Mengersen, Marc J. Lajeunesse, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 6.Effect Sizes: Conventional Choices & Calculations 61 Michael S. Rosenberg, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Jessica Gurevitch 7.Using Other Metrics of Effect Size in Meta-analysis 72 Kerrie Mengersen & Jessica Gurevitch SECTION III : Essential Analytic Models & Methods 8.Statistical Models & Approaches to Inference 89 Kerrie Mengersen, Christopher H. Schmid, Michael D. Jennions, & Jessica Gurevitch 9.Moment & Least-Squares Based Approaches to Meta-analytic Inference 108 Michael S. Rosenberg 10.Maximum Likelihood Approaches to Meta-analysis 125 Kerrie Mengersen & Christopher H. Schmid 11.Bayesian Meta-analysis 145 Christopher H. Schmid & Kerrie Mengersen 12.Software for Statistical Meta-analysis 174 Christopher H. Schmid, Gavin B. Stewart, Hannah R. Rothstein, Marc J. Lajeunesse, & Jessica Gurevitch SECTION IV: Statistical Issues & Problems 13.Recovering Missing or Partial Data from Studies: A Survey of Conversions & Imputations for Meta-analysis 195 Marc J. Lajeunesse 14.Publication & Related Biases 207 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, Michael S. Rosenberg, & Hannah R. Rothstein 15.Temporal Trends in Effect Sizes: Causes, Detection, & Implications 237 Julia Koricheva, Michael D. Jennions, & Joseph Lau 16.Statistical Models for the Meta-analysis of Nonindependent Data 255 Kerrie Mengersen, Michael D. Jennions, & Christopher H. Schmid 17.Phylogenetic Nonindependence & Meta-analysis 284 Marc J. Lajeunesse, Michael S. Rosenberg, & Michael D. Jennions 18.Meta-analysis of Primary Data 300 Kerrie Mengersen, Jessica Gurevitch, & Christopher H. Schmid 19.Meta-analysis of Results from Multisite Studies 313 Jessica Gurevitch SECTION V: Presentation & Interpretation of Results 20.Quality St&ards for Research Syntheses 323 Hannah R. Rothstein, Christopher J. Lortie, Gavin B. Stewart, Julia Koricheva, & Jessica Gurevitch 21.Graphical Presentation of Results 339 Christopher J. Lortie, Joseph Lau, & Marc J. Lajeunesse 22.Power Statistics for Meta-analysis: Tests for Mean Effects & Homogeneity 348 Marc J. Lajeunesse 23.Role of Meta-analysis in Interpreting the Scientific Literature 364 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, & Julia Koricheva 24.Using Meta-analysis to Test Ecological & Evolutionary Theory 381 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, & Julia Koricheva SECTION VI: Contributions of Meta-analysis in Ecology & Evolution 25.History & Progress of Meta-analysis 407 Joseph Lau, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 26.Contributions of Meta-analysis to Conservation & Management 420 Isabelle M. Cote & Gavin B. Stewart 27.Conclusions: Past, Present, & Future of Meta-analysis in Ecology & Evolution 426 Jessica Gurevitch & Julia Koricheva Glossary 433 Frequently Asked Questions 441 References 447 List of Contributors 487 Subject Index 489

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Book SynopsisRussell Tuttle synthesizes a vast literature in primate evolution and behavior to explain how apes and humans evolved in relation to one another and why humans became a bipedal, tool-making, culture-inventing species distinct from other hominoids. He refutes the theory that we are sophisticated, instinctively aggressive and destructive killer apes.Trade ReviewLike the late Stephen Jay Gould’s magisterial Structure of Evolutionary Theory, Tuttle’s tome is a grand synthesis of all the latest research and data about apes and their relation to us… But lest you think it is intended chiefly for colleagues in the fields of anthropology and evolutionary biology, Tuttle’s style throughout is crisp and often witty. -- John Farrell * Forbes *Witty, readable, compendious, learned, and judicious, Russell Tuttle’s big new book offers every reader a thorough survey of the biology and evolution of apes, including humans and their ancestors. For scientists, it will be an invaluable resource and a treasury of unfamiliar facts and challenging ideas. -- Matt Cartmill, Professor of Anthropology, Boston UniversityIn this masterly overview, Tuttle interprets human evolution through detailed comparisons with our closest zoological relatives, the apes. This is a truly monumental treatise, not only in scope but particularly because of the depth of scholarship that has been brought to bear. Drawing on a lifetime of study focusing on anatomy but also including behavior and ecology, this is destined to become a classic reference work. -- Robert D. Martin, A. Watson Armour III Curator of Biological Anthropology, The Field Museum, ChicagoA rare accomplishment. Apes and Human Evolution is an unusually fine contribution to the field and will foster great interest in any reader. -- Duane Rumbaugh, Regents Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Language Research Center, Georgia State UniversityTuttle provides both a synthesis and a history of the evolution of one of the most interesting species of all: ourselves. An impressive achievement, written by an authority on the topic. -- Karen B. Strier, Vilas Professor and Irven DeVore Professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Book SynopsisThis book is aimed at students taking courses on evolution in universities and colleges. Its approach and its structure are very different from previously-published evolution texts. The core theme in this book is how evolution works by changing the course of embryonic and post-embryonic development. In other words, it is an evolution text that has been very much influenced by the new approach of evolutionary developmental biology, or ''evo-devo''. Key themes include the following: developmental repatterning; adaptation and coadaptation; gene co-option; developmental plasticity; the origins of evolutionary novelties and body plans; and evolutionary changes in the complexity of organisms. As can be seen from this list, the book includes information across the levels of the gene, the organism, and the population. It also includes the issue of mapping developmental changes onto evolutionary trees. The examples used to illustrate particular points range widely, including animals, plantsTrade Review“For that audience, I think it will serve well and I recommend it strongly for university courses.” (The Quarterly Review of Biology, 6 March2013) “Written is an accessible style, illustrated by many original and specific examples including animals, plants or fossils, this book has the advantage to be an excellent textbook devoted to students studying evolution or to their teachers. It can be also recommended to anybody interested by the basic concept of evolution.” (Mammalia, 28 June 2012) "The style is lucid, the illustrations are lavish, and the length is just about right for an undergraduate course resource. Summing Up: Recommended. All students, researchers/faculty, and professionals." (Choice, 1 September 2011) "This exceedingly accessible and very attractive text is illustrated in full color." (Booknews, 1 June 2011) "Although this is a text intended for third level students and professional biologists, Prof Arthur's book brings anyone with more than a passing interest up to date on the mechanisms involved in evolution, and as he notes, we should go easy on the assumptions." (Science Spin, 1 May 2011)Table of ContentsPreface x Part I Foundations 3 1 Introduction 4 1.1 From Darwin to Development 4 1.2 Development; and Evolutionary Changes in Development 9 1.3 Development and the Realm of Multicellularity 11 2 What is Evo-Devo? 15 2.1 Forerunners of Evo-Devo 15 2.2 Nineteenth-Century Comparative Embryology 16 2.3 Diverse Antecedents—1900–1980 19 2.4 Conclusions from History; Messages for the Present 24 2.5 The Advent of Evo-Devo in the 1980s 25 2.6 Broad and Narrow Views of Evo-Devo 27 2.7 Too Few Laws, Too Many Facts? 28 3 Development, Cells and Molecules 34 3.1 Analysing the Developing Organism 34 3.2 Cells and Development: The Basics 37 3.3 Genes: Structure, Expression and Developmental Function 40 3.4 Signalling Pathways Within and Between Cells 45 3.5 Signalling: From Cell to Embryo 48 3.6 Long-Range Signalling and Developmental Processes 51 4 Natural Populations 54 4.1 The Ecological Theatre and the Evolutionary Play 54 4.2 Types of Creature; Types of Population 55 4.3 Spatial Structure 60 4.4 Age Structure 64 4.5 Genetic Structure 65 4.6 Natural Selection 67 Part II Developmental Repatterning 75 5 Mutation and Developmental Repatterning 77 5.1 Mutation in Terms of Altered DNA Sequence 77 5.2 Mutation in Terms of Proximate Functional Consequences 80 5.3 Developmental Repatterning at Molecular and Higher Levels 82 5.4 Developmental Repatterning at the Level of the Whole Organism 88 5.5 Developmental Repatterning and Fitness 89 6 Heterochrony 93 6.1 What is Heterochrony? 93 6.2 Types and Levels of Heterochrony 94 6.3 Heterochrony at the Organismic Level 95 6.4 Heterochrony at the Molecular Level 99 6.5 Heterochrony and Fitness 102 7 Heterotopy 106 7.1 What is Heterotopy? 106 7.2 Heterotopic Processes Involving Left-Right Asymmetry 107 7.3 Heterotopic Processes Involving the A-P and D-V Axes 112 7.4 Other Types of Heterotopy 116 7.5 Concluding Remarks 119 8 Heterometry 121 8.1 What is Heterometry? 121 8.2 Increasing Relative Size 122 8.3 Decreasing Relative Size 124 8.4 Bi-directional Heterometry 128 8.5 Heterometric Compensation 132 9 Heterotypy 135 9.1 What is Heterotypy? 135 9.2 Altered Products of Developmental Genes 137 9.3 Altered Pigmentation 139 9.4 Altered Morphology and the Origin of Novelty 140 9.5 The Origin of New Cell Types 144 10 The Integrative Nature of Repatterning 148 10.1 Repatterning is a Complex Process 148 10.2 Different Kinds of Repatterning can Produce a Similar Result 149 10.3 Compound Repatterning at a Single Level of Organisation 151 10.4 The Kind of Repatterning can Change Between Levels of Organisation 155 10.5 Categories and Subcategories of Repatterning 157 10.6 The Causes of Repatterning 159 11 Mapping Repatterning to Trees 161 11.1 Pattern, Process, Homology and Trees 161 11.2 The Origin(s) of Animal Segmentation 163 11.3 The Vertebrate Fin-to-Limb Transition 169 11.4 The Origin of Flowers 176 11.5 General Conclusions on Repatterning and Selection 179 Part III The Direction of Evolution 183 12 Adaptation, Coadaptation and Exaptation 185 12.1 Natural Selection on a Continuously Variable Character 185 12.2 Natural Selection on Two Characters; and the Idea of an Adaptive Landscape 190 12.3 Developmental and Functional Coadaptation 191 12.4 Morphological Geometry and Selection 194 12.5 Long-term Evolution and Exaptation 196 13 Developmental Bias and Constraint 200 13.1 A Key Question about Evolution’s Direction 200 13.2 Making Sure the Question is about Processes, not Terminology 204 13.3 Dependence versus Independence of Different Characters 208 13.4 Evo-Devo Meets Quantitative Genetics 209 13.5 Developmental Bias and ‘Routine’ Evolution 211 13.6 Developmental Bias and the Origin of Evolutionary Novelties 216 14 Developmental Genes and Evolution 218 14.1 The Direction of Evolution at the Developmental/Genetic Level 218 14.2 Developmental Genes: An Overview 219 14.3 Developmental Genes: Examples 223 14.4 The Hox Genes 225 14.5 Gene-Level Forms of Developmental Bias and Coadaptation 230 14.6 Changes in Regulatory versus Coding Regions of Genes 231 15 Gene Co-option as an Evolutionary Mechanism 234 15.1 What is Gene Co-option? 234 15.2 Co-option in the Evolution of Segments and Eyes 237 15.3 Appendage Evolution and Gene Co-option 241 15.4 Co-option in the Evolution of Zygomorphic Flowers 244 15.5 Evolution of the ‘Genetic Toolkit’ 245 15.6 Co-option, Exaptation and Developmental Bias 249 16 Developmental Plasticity and Evolution 252 16.1 Types of Developmental Plasticity 252 16.2 Discrete Variants: Winged and Wingless Forms of Insects 254 16.3 Meristic Variation: the Number of Segments in Centipedes 257 16.4 Continuous Variation: Plant Growth 259 16.5 Plasticity and Developmental Genes 260 16.6 The Evolution of Patterns of Plasticity 261 17 The Origin of Species, Novelties and Body Plans 272 17.1 Is Evolution Scale-dependent? 272 17.2 Speciation 273 17.3 The Origin of Novelties 281 17.4 Body Plans I: Overview 284 17.5 Body Plans II: the Origin of the Vertebrates 285 17.6 Body Plans III: the ‘Cambrian Explosion’ 286 18 The Evolution of Complexity 291 18.1 Defining Complexity 291 18.2 The Lack of a ‘Law of Increasing Complexity’ 293 18.3 Increases in the Complexity of Adults 299 18.4 Changes in the Complexity of Life-histories 302 18.5 Complexity at the Molecular Level 306 Part IV Conclusions 311 19 Key Concepts and Connections 312 19.1 Introduction: From Original Idea to Mature Scientific Discipline 312 19.2 A List of The Book’s Main Points, and the Emergence of Key Concepts 314 19.3 How do They Inter-Connect? 319 20 Prospects 327 20.1 Introduction: From the Present into the Future 327 20.2 Molecular Evo-Devo 327 20.3 Integrative Evo-Devo and General Evolutionary Theory 332 20.4 Wider Challenges 334 Glossary 336 Appendix 1: A Little Bit of History 355 Appendix 2: Naming of Genes and Proteins 359 Appendix 3: Geological Time 363 Appendix 4: Inferring Evolutionary Trees from Comparative Data 366 References 370 Index 383

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Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolutionfrom the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequalityand revealing new possibilities for human emancipation.For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlikeeither free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or by taming our baser instincts. In their major New York Times bestseller, The Dawn of Everything, David Graeber and David Wengrow fundamentally challenge these assumptions and recast our understanding of human history. We will never again see the past in the same way.Drawing on pathbreaking research in archaeology and anthropology, Graeber and Wengrow reveal how history becomes a far more int

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] riveting account. ... In places, Fossil Men seems more reality television show than a work of popular science, as we follow an outrageous cast. ... The story lines border on the insane: There are civil wars, gunfights, at least one grenade rolling around the feet of scientists as they drive into the desert. ... Pattison... is every bit as good as the best scientist-writers. He describes the intricacies of the human wrist and foot with the skill of a poet... [and] explains in clear and compelling prose how scientists build family trees of ancient species." — New York Times Book Review "Entertaining. ... Satisfying. ... Gripping. ... Big personalities, simmering turmoil, and fascinating popular science." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “At the core of Kermit Pattison’s rip-roaring tale is the prickly, obsessive, brilliant American paleonaut, Tim White, who braves revolutions, tribal warfare, and bitter scientific rivals to unearth ancient bones, without which there would be no pre-history, no civilization, no humanity.” — PETER NICHOLS, New York Times bestselling author of The Rocks and Evolution's Captain "Brilliant. ... A work of staggering depth. ... Pattison deftly weaves strands of science, sociology and political science into a compelling tale that stretches over decades. ... His prose is lively and accessible. ... An ambitious work that fully justifies the extraordinary effort that went into it, both by the fossil men and by the writer who chronicled their work." — Minneapolis Star Tribune “Fossil Men is a wonderful mix of history, science and politics, full of pathos and insight in equal measure. I found it difficult to put down, and I didn’t want it to end....This book should be required reading for all those who care about how science may help answer the question of who we are as humans. A monumental achievement!” — HASOK CHANG, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge "An exciting book, full of colorful personalities, momentous discoveries, and new ideas that challenge us to reconsider everything we believed about the evolution of humankind." — Booklist "Compelling science. ... Perfect for National Geographic readers who want to dig deep into the human evolutionary tree." — Library Journal "A riveting story of academic, political, and personal intrigue." — Christian Science Monitor (Best Books of November 2020 Roundup) "A dazzling journey into deep geological time. ... Pattinson combines his meticulously researched examination of the science of ancient humans with a visceral and penetrating tale of... intrigue, academic rivalry, pathological jealousy and intellectual inertia. He uses his first-hand experience of being on site in Ethiopia to detail the art, science, joys and challenges of fossil-hunting. ... Fascinating. ... Unexpected and revelatory." — The Spectator (London) "Equal parts biography and adventure novel, Pattison illustrates the colorful characters — flaws and all — whose research has shaped our origin story as we know it today." — Discover magazine “[A] lively debut. … Pattison ably combines the adventure yarn with scientific minutiae. … Those interested in human origins should check out this vivid and thorough study.” — Publishers Weekly "Blends science and drama to tell the story of a major paleoanthropology find. ... For anyone interested in fossil hunting, evolutionary science and a hominid skeleton like no other, this book delivers." — Science News “Pattison weaves the multiple intrigues of science, politics, and personalities into a masterly structured tale…. Leaves readers with a new sense of wonder at the origins of humankind.” — Christian Science Monitor "Fascinating. ... Exciting." — Twin Cities Pioneer Press "Any science-minded person... will truly enjoy Fossil Men." — Danville Commercial-News "Perceptive and revealing. ... Pattison has a commendable and enviable grasp of a wide range of difficult methods and concepts, and he does a fine job of presenting and explaining the many scientific developments that have enriched the way we interpret the hominin fossil record.” — Journal of Human Evolution

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Book SynopsisThe publication of Darwin’s The Origin of Species in 1859 marked a dramatic turning point in scientific thought. The volume had taken Darwin more than twenty years to publish, in part because he envisioned the storm of controversy it was certain to unleash. Indeed, selling out its first edition on its first day, The Origin of Species revolutionized science, philosophy, and theology. Darwin’s reasoned, documented arguments carefully advance his theory of natural selection and his assertion that species were not created all at once by a divine hand but started with a few simple forms that mutated and adapted over time. Whether commenting on his own poor health, discussing his experiments to test instinct in bees, or relating a conversation about a South American burrowing rodent, Darwin’s monumental achievement is surprisingly personal and delightfully readable. Its profound ideas remain controversial even today, making it the most influential book

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Book SynopsisSince Dawkins popularized the notion of the selfish gene, the question of how these selfish genes work together to construct an organism remained a mystery. Now, standing atop a wealth of new research, Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher—pioneers in the field of systems biology—provide a vision of how genes cooperate and compete in the struggle for life.Trade ReviewYanai and Lercher invite the reader to step back and observe how genes assemble together to make a global genetic system, or genome… [It] largely succeeds in translating the findings of an esoteric science into something that is easily understood… The Society of Genes represents a timely and welcome handbook for navigating this postgenomic era. -- Joseph Swift * Science *Using findings from the molecular revolution that only really got going in the 1980s, the authors build up a picture of networks of genes forming guilds in order to preserve their DNA dynasties… [This] lively text contain[s] a panorama of examples illustrating how genes do better by combining forces in networks. -- Charalambos P. Kyriacou * Times Higher Education *Yanai and Lercher use the idea of a society of genes as a vantage point from which to reintroduce the entire field of evolutionary genetics… Even experienced readers are likely to encounter perspectives that are unexpected enough to make the book worth their effort… Readers meeting biology for the first time will be well served by this richer, more nuanced, way of viewing genetics, while those with a deeper background will find plenty of interest, notably in the vivid clarity of the explanations. -- Bob Holmes * New Scientist *If you’re looking for a ‘what’s hot in genetics in 2016,’ this book wouldn’t be a bad place to start. It covers a huge number of topics—from the basics of genetics to genome editing, antimicrobial resistance and the functions of junk DNA… We need books like this. -- Simon Hazelwood-Smith * BioNews *The writing is engaging and clear, providing ample introductory material to ensure that the interested lay reader will be swept along by both the science and the evolutionary story…For the general reader, Yanai and Lercher’s discussions of cancer, immunology, sexual reproduction, and population genetics are well worth exploring. * Publishers Weekly *Written by two of the smartest young thinkers in their fields, The Society of Genes is an absorbing, thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of genetics, evolutionary biology, and society. -- Eric Lander, Professor of Biology at MIT and founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and HarvardThe Society of Genes is punchy, provocative, and timely and a must-read for us all. -- Michael Levitt, Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University and Recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in ChemistryWell worth the interested reader’s attention. -- M. Taylor * Choice *

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Book SynopsisChapais shows that our knowledge about kinship and society in nonhuman primates supports, and informs, ideas proposed by Claude Lévi-Strauss. He contends that only a few evolutionary steps were required to bridge the gap between the kinship structures of our closest relatives—chimpanzees and bonobos—and the human kinship configuration.Trade ReviewBernard Chapais offers a powerful and controversial new account of hominid origins… His book offers us one more scenario of our human trajectory… Chapais‘ thesis urges us to consider very carefully why humans are so different. -- Monique Borgerhoff Mulder * Nature *Chapais has written a bold, new book that promises nothing less than the unveiling of the original, earliest form of human society and an account of how it developed over evolutionary time. The book indeed fulfills this promise, presenting a persuasive, well-argued, logical evolutionary scenario based on empirical data and a sound comparative method… Primeval Kinship presents powerful arguments concerning the origin and evolutionary path of human kinship. It reopens old questions, long abandoned, about the origins of human society, and addresses them with a brilliant synthesis of recent primate data. Chapais has demonstrated that primatology is now positioned to make significant contributions to the study of human kinship. This work will undoubtedly open further debate and inspire further research. It effectively dispels the view that human kinship is a purely cultural construction or that kinship can be understood outside the framework of our primate legacy. -- Linda Stone * Evolutionary Psychology *Primeval Kinship represents a bold effort to integrate two wildly disparate disciplines, primatology and cultural anthropology, to understand long-standing questions about the evolution of human society. With an increasing tendency toward specialization in science, there are few who dare step outside of their comfort zones to attempt broad, wide-ranging syntheses on problems that go to the heart of what it is to be human. In this regard, Chapais should be lauded for his labors and for an extremely stimulating read. His reasoned and careful treatment of the primate data provides considerable food for thought about how and why we have come to be the way we are. -- John C. Mitani * Primates *Primeval Kinship is a treasure chest of comparative research on human and primate social structure, organization, and behavior. This book will reignite and reinvigorate discussions of the evolution of primate and human society. It will be a model from which future social and physical anthropologists, primatologists, and social scientists can build. -- Robert Wald Sussman, Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Sciences, Washington University in St. LouisTable of Contents* Preface 1. The Question of the Origin of Human Society * A Forsaken Quest * The Deep Structure of Human Societies I. Primatologists As Evolutionary Historians 2. Primatology and the Evolution of Human Behavior * The Phylogenetic Decomposition Principle * Reconstructing the Exogamy Configuration 3. The Uterine Kinship Legacy * Primatological Theories and Primate Legacies * Appraising Primate Kinship * The Domain of Uterine Kindred in Primates * How Are Uterine Kin Recognized? * The Origin of Group-wide Kinship Structures 4. From Biological to Cultural Kinship * Beyond Consanguineal Kinship * The "Genealogical Unity of Mankind" * The Bilateral Character of Human Kinship 5. The Incest Avoidance Legacy * Elements of a Primatological Theory of Incest Avoidance * Humankind's Primate Heritage 6. From Behavioral Regularities to Institutionalized Rules * The Anthropologists' Treatment of the Primate Data * The Westermarck Knot * The Morality Problem * Lessons from Comparative Anatomy II. The Exogamy Configuration Decomposed 7. Levi-Strauss and the Deep Structure of Human Society * Reciprocal Exogamy as a Deep Structuring Principle * Reciprocal Exogamy as Archaic * The Convergence beyond the Critiques * Levi-Strauss and the Primate Data 8. Human Society Out of the Evolutionary Vacuum * Leslie White and the Primate Origins of Exogamy * Elman Service and the Primitive Exogamous Band * Robin Fox and the Initial Deconstruction of Exogamy 9. The Building Blocks of Exogamy * Pinpointing the Distinctiveness of Exogamy * Reconstructing Human Society: The Task Ahead * A Once Irreducible System III. The Exogamy Configuration Reconstructed 10. The Ancestral Male Kin Group Hypothesis * The Patrilocal Band Model * Male Philopatry in Apes * The Homology Hypothesis * Updating the Ancestral Male Kin Group Hypothesis * The Gorilla Alternative 11. The Evolutionary History of Pair-Bonding * The "Invariant Core of the Family" * Pair-Bonds as Parental Partnerships * The Pitfall of the Modern Family Reference * A Two-Step Evolutionary Sequence * Monogamy as a Special Case of Polygyny * The Evolutionary History of the Sexual Division of Labor 12 Pair-Bonding and the Reinvention of Kinship * The Fundamental Equation of the Exogamy Configuration * Kinship in the Ancestral Male Kin Group * Fatherhood * The Institutionalized Denial of Paternity * The Development of Agnatic Kinship Structures 13. Biparentality and the Transformation of Siblingships * Chimpanzee Siblingships * Fatherhood and the Evolution of Strong Brotherhoods * Fatherhood and the Brother--Sister Bond * The Added Effect of Shorter Interbirth Intervals 14. Beyond the Local Group: The Rise of the Tribe * Male Pacification as a Prerequisite for the Tribe * Females as Peacemakers: The Consanguinity Route * Females as Peacemakers: The Affinity Route * The Initial Impetus * The Prelinguistic Tribe 15. From Male Philopatry to Residential Diversity * Some Serious Discrepancies * The Emergence of Residential Diversity * Ancestral Patrilocality and Grandmothering 16. Brothers, Sisters, and the Founding Principle of Exogamy * The First Step: Outmarriage * Affinal Brotherhoods and the Origin of Exogamy Rules * From Siblings-in-Law to Cross-Cousins * The "Atom of Kinship" Revisited IV. Unilineal Descent 17. Filiation, Descent, and Ideology * The African Model of Unilineal Descent Groups * The Chestnut within the Model 18. The Primate Origins of Unilineal Descent Groups * Group Membership through Birth * Kinship-Based Segmentation * The Genealogical Boundaries of Exogamy * The Unisexual Transmission of Status * Primitive Corporateness * A Multilevel Structure of Solidarity 19. The Evolutionary History of Human Descent * Female Kin Groups as Precultural Matriclans * The Residential Basis of Proto--Descent Groups * The Latent Patriclan * Matrilineality as a Male Affair 20. Conclusion: Human Society as Contingent * References * Index

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Book SynopsisEvery rock is a tangible trace of the earth’s past. This book tells the fascinating stories behind the discoveries that shook the foundations of geology. In twenty-five chapters—each about a particular rock, outcrop, or geologic phenomenon—Donald R. Prothero recounts the scientific detective work that shaped our understanding of geology.Trade ReviewA natural follow-up to the author’s The Story of Life in 25 Fossils . . . [A] useful introduction to geology. * Kirkus Reviews *In 25 short and enjoyable chapters, [Prothero] explores issues that have been at the center of geology since long before geology was a science... Prothero provides thought-provoking historical context for each subject and presents information about the individuals responsible for advancing geological knowledge—including James Hutton, Charles Lyell, and Alfred Wegener—while explaining the underlying science in an accessible manner. * Publishers Weekly *Geologist Donald Prothero has crafted a rock-solid premise for this delightful book. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *I learned something and gained a deeper appreciation for the history of Earth science from reading The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks. I recommend it to anyone interested in tales of scientific discovery and natural marvels. * Physics Today *Skillfully presents a vast array of facts that should appeal to readers newly acquainted with Earth science who are interested in learning a bit more. * Choice *The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks provides twenty-five well-lit doorways into the sometimes dark and imposing edifice of the geologic past. Colorful characters welcome the reader in, revealing the very human nature of scientific inquiry and our long and complicated relationship with rocks. -- Marcia Bjornerud, author of Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of EarthTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments 1. Volcanic Tuff: Vulcan’s Wrath: The Eruption of Vesuvius2. Native Copper: The Iceman and the Island of Copper3. Cassiterite: The “Isles of Tin” and the Bronze Age4. Angular Unconformity: “No Vestige of a Beginning”: The Immensity of Geologic Time5. Igneous Dikes: The “Earth’s Great Heat Engine”: The Origin of Magmas6. Coal: The Rock That Burns Fires the Industrial Revolution7. Jurassic World: The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Rocks of Britain8. Radioactive Uranium: Clocks in Rocks: Arthur Holmes and the Age of the Earth9. Chondritic Meteorites: Messengers From Space: The Origin of the Solar System10. Iron-Nickel Meteorites: The Cores of Other Planets 11. Moon Rocks: Green Cheese or Anorthosite: The Origin of the Moon12. Zircons: Early Oceans and Life? Evidence in a Grain of Sand13. Stromatolites: Microbial Condos: Cyanobacteria and the Oldest Life14. Banded Iron Formation: Mountains of Iron: The Earth’s Early Atmosphere15. Turbidites: Archean Sediments and Submarine Landslides16. Diamictites: Tropical Glaciers and the Snowball Earth17. Exotic Terranes: Paradox in Rocks: Wandering Fossils and Traveling Landmasses18. Jigsaw-Puzzle Bedrock: Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift19. Chalk: The Cretaceous Seaway and Greenhouse Planet20. The Iridium Layer: The Death of the Dinosaurs21. Lodestones: How Paleomagic Launched Plate Tectonics22. Blueschists: The Puzzle of Subduction Zones23. Transform Faults: Earthquake! The San Andreas Fault24. Messinian Evaporites: The Mediterranean Was a Desert25. Glacial Erraticts: A Poet, a Professor, a Politician, a Janitor, and the Discovery of the Ice AgesIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Mate Choice represents an ambitious synthesis of our current understanding of sexual selection in a broad range of life forms. . . . The book provides a clear synthesis of the state of affairs in the study of mate choice and related fields." * Science *"Rosenthal does an admirable job refocusing decades of work mostly concerned with the effects of (primarily female) mate choice on (primarily male) behavior, physiology, and morphology."---David A. Gray, Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisEight percent of our DNA contains retroviruses that are millions of years old. Anna Marie Skalka explains how our evolving knowledge of these particles has advanced genetic engineering, gene delivery systems, and precision medicine. Retroviruses cause disease but also hold clues to prevention and treatment possibilities that are anything but retro.Trade ReviewA gem. Anna Marie Skalka has produced a short but exciting story that covers 20th century biology from the vantage point of an insider and the perspective of retroviruses and related genetic elements…I recommend this book to students and those of us who remain excited by biology and medicine. -- Robert C. Gallo * FASEB Journal *Discovering Retroviruses takes the reader on a remarkable historical voyage from the earliest appearance of life on earth to the present day. Students will not find a better way to learn the basic history of molecular biology and retrovirology. Experts will find Skalka’s unraveling of how and why retroviruses are ‘beacons in the biosphere’ to be fresh, compelling, insightful, and thought-provoking. This book showcases Skalka’s passion and excitement for science. -- Lynn W. Enquist, Princeton UniversityThis fascinating book aptly anchors retroviruses in groundbreaking discoveries that mark the ascent of biology over the past hundred years. Discovering Retroviruses is elegantly written, with the clarity and insight only a leading scientist in the field can offer. -- Peter Vogt, The Scripps Research InstituteDiscovering Retroviruses takes us on an extraordinary journey from the beginnings of life to the transmission of disease. Skalka shows how retroviruses impacted the evolution of species, including our own, and introduces us to the remarkable people who made these discoveries. This is a compelling book. -- Bruce Stillman, Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryAt its heart, this volume is a love letter to basic research, illustrating how scientists’ insight and the scientific record have synergized, time and again, to drive biomedical advances…Illuminating. -- Alice Telesnitsky * Quarterly Review of Biology *Intensely thought-provoking and satisfying…Immensely valuable. -- Tyler Hampton * Inference *

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Book SynopsisAre we now entering a mass extinction event? What can mass extinctions in Earth''s history tell us about the Anthropocene? What do mass extinction events look like and how does life on Earth recover from them? The fossil record reveals periods when biodiversity exploded, and short intervals when much of life was wiped out in mass extinction events. In comparison with these ancient events, today''s biotic crisis hasn''t (yet) reached the level of extinction to be called a mass extinction. But we are certainly in crisis, and current parallels with ancient mass extinction events are profound and deeply worrying. Humanity''s actions are applying the same sorts of pressures - on similar scales - that in the past pushed the Earth system out of equilibrium and triggered mass extinction events. Analysis of the fossil record suggests that we still have some time to avert this disaster: but we must act now.Trade Review'… a useful and succinct summary of the research into the reality and timing of mass extinctions from the early concepts to recent research - it brought me up-to-date with current thinking on mass extinctions. I admire his 'sceptical' stance: attempting to discriminate what a mass extinction actually is - outside the biggest three - is not as easy as has been assumed. The mass extinctions of the past clearly have relevance to the current approaching catastrophe in the Anthropocene, and the careful appraisal of exactly where we are in comparison with previous extinctions will be of great concern to those interested in the 'long view'. I particularly appreciated the focus on the notion of the interconnectedness of Earth systems.' Richard Fortey, author of Life: An Unauthorised Biography History and Trilobite: Eyewitness to Evolution'Despite its somber title and topic, Extinctions is an exuberant road trip through the history of life on Earth, led by a friendly and knowledgeable guide who knows all the locals along the way. Visiting so many ancestral Earthlings and vanished ecosystems is heady - and deeply humbling.' Marcia Bjornerud, Lawrence University, author of Timefulness and Reading the Rocks'Most of life may well be extinct, because of the huge age of the Earth, but Michael Hannah shows vividly in this book that the 8.7 million species on Earth today are profoundly at risk; the lessons of the fossil record tell us what will surely happen if we continue pushing species after species to the brink.' Michael Benton, University of Bristol, author of Dinosaurs Rediscovered'Without death, there can be no change. And, as Michael Hannah makes clear in his engaging new book, mass extinctions on various scales have been key shapers of the world as we know it. Had the dinosaurs not abruptly disappeared, we humans would not be here today. But as Hannah also shows, there is something dreadfully menacing about the massive species loss and climate change the world is currently experiencing, making his book a balanced yet deeply unsettling account of what humans are unwittingly doing to the world.' Ian Tattersall, American Museum of Natural History, co-author of The Accidental Homo sapiens'An accessible and authoritative guide to the past, present, and future of extinctions. Michael Hannah dives into the fossil record and surveys the great mass extinctions of Earth history, from the death of the dinosaurs to the demise of the woolly mammoth, and explains how they are relevant to understanding the predicament we are in today, and to plotting a better future.' Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh and New York Times/Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs'Michael Hannah's book expertly examines the geological record of mass extinction events. It asks us to consider whether we wish to join asteroid strikes and massive volcanic eruptions as causes of mass extinction. Or whether we can change our relationships with the wonderful diversity of life around us to avoid such an ignominious outcome.' Mark Williams, University of Leicester'… measured, thought-provoking analysis.' Andrew Robinson, NatureTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; Further reading; Introduction; 1. The Anthropocene and the Earth system; 2. A short detour: the fossil record and the geological time scale; 3. The origin of animals and the emergence of the Earth system; 4. Documenting ancient biodiversity; 5. Mass extinctions – the basics; 6. Causes of the End-Permian and End-Cretaceous extinction events; 7. Time heals all – recovering from a mass extinction; 8. The late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions; 9. Surviving the Anthropocene; Further reading; Index.

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Book SynopsisMycorrhizae are mutualisms between plants and fungi that evolved over 400 million years ago. This symbiotic relationship commenced with land invasion, and as new groups evolved, new organisms developed with varying adaptations to changing conditions. Based on the author''s 50 years of knowledge and research, this book characterizes mycorrhizae through the most rapid global environmental changes in human history. It applies that knowledge in many different scenarios, from restoring strip mines in Wyoming and shifting agriculture in the Yucatán, to integrating mutualisms into science policy in California and Washington, D.C. Toggling between ecological theory and natural history of a widespread and long-lived symbiotic relationship, this interdisciplinary volume scales from structure-function and biochemistry to ecosystem dynamics and global change. This remarkable study is of interest to a wide range of students, researchers, and land-use managers.Table of ContentsPreface; Glossary of key terms; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Structure-functioning relationships; 3. Evolutionary Ecology; 4. Physiological Ecology; 5. Population Ecology; 6. Community Ecology; 7. Ecosystem Dynamics; 8. Mycorrhizae and Succession; 9. Global Change; 10. Conservation, Restoration, and Re-Wilding: Mycorrhizae as a Cornerstone; Conclusion and Summary; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisKnowledge of wild chimpanzees has expanded dramatically. This volume, edited by Martin Muller, Richard Wrangham, and David Pilbeam, brings together scientists who are leading a revolution to discover and explain human uniqueness, by studying our closest living relatives. Their conclusions may transform our understanding of human evolution.Trade ReviewComprehensive, judicious, authoritative, up-to-date, well written, and thoroughly fascinating to anyone interested in either species. -- Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our NatureIn Chimpanzees and Human Evolution, Muller, Wrangham, and Pilbeam have compiled comprehensive and wide-ranging accounts of the evolutionary continuum between chimpanzees and ourselves. It is as much about human nature as it is about chimpanzee behavior and cognition. A truly valuable and information-packed volume. -- Craig Stanford, author of Planet Without ApesTo understand the evolutionary roots of what makes us modern humans, we need to understand the evolutionary history of the phenotype of our closest living relatives. By providing an authoritative and up-to-date guide to what it means to be a common chimpanzee, Chimpanzees and Human Evolution helps us better appreciate and recognize what is special about ourselves. -- Bernard Wood, author of Human EvolutionComprehensive and provocative, this wonderful volume will be indispensable for all interested in human evolution. -- Anne Pusey, Director of the Jane Goodall Institute Research Center, Duke UniversityThe authors provide a wealth of detailed information about chimpanzees and humans, and offer readers original and provocative insights into the evolutionary history of our own species…This masterful work adds substantially to the field of primatology and human evolution; it should be read by anyone with a serious interest in these fields. -- T. Harrison * Choice *

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Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction. Chapter 1. Sunfishes (Centrarchidae). Chapter 2. Livebearing Fishes (Poeciliidae). Chapter 3. Other Freshwater Fishes. Chapter 4. Pipefishes and Seahorses (Syngnathidae). Chapter 5. Other Marine Fishes. Chapter 6. The Mangrove Rivulus. Chapter 7. Amphibians. Chapter 8. Marine Turtles. Chapter 9. Freshwater Turtles. Chapter 10. Other Reptiles. Chapter 11. Birds. Chapter 12. Rodents. Chapter 13. Other Mammals. Chapter 14. Invertebrates. Chapter 15. Intergroup Comparisons

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Book SynopsisA compelling evolutionary narrative that reveals how human civilization follows the same ecological rules that shape all life on EarthTrade Review“Starting from ecological and evolutionary principles that transcend our own species, Mark Bertness offers a new perspective on the rise of human civilization.”—Judith Bronstein, editor of Mutualism“A Brief Natural History of Civilization uses the science of natural history to frame the peril and promise of our times.”—Paul Ewald, author of Plague Time: The New Germ Theory of Disease“Understanding the ‘big picture’ of the development and trajectory of human civilization is vital as a global society faces collapse. Bertness’ book provides a brilliant short course on what should be the central topic for public education today.”—Paul R. Ehrlich, author of Human Natures“A remarkable, far-ranging synthesis with something new and eye-opening on just about every page. Mark Bertness points to the powerful force of cooperation as our best hope.”—James Gustave Speth, author of America the Possible: Manifesto for a New Economy“Who am I? This book weaves a powerful argument that our sense of self and our culture is very tightly coupled to our sense of place in nature. A remarkable synthesis!”—Paul Dayton, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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Book SynopsisIs He Out There? is an interdisciplinary examination of the Christian reaction to Dawkinss The God Delusion. That reaction has offered a wide range of counter-arguments, among them: that Dawkinss demonstration of how God almost certainly doesnt exist addresses an out-dated conception of God; that science and religion are not conflictual as Dawkins contends and indeed may well be converging upon an understanding of how God acts in the universe; that Dawkinss denigration of the Bible depends on an overly literal reading; and that Dawkins assumes a narrative of progress in which human beings take the place of God in controlling the course of history. Is He Out There? responds to these arguments in the context of current scientific understanding, biblical criticism and philosophy. Paul Laffan demonstrates how the desire to meet the challenge posed by Dawkinss viewpoint has led to the perversion of scientific theories and accepted positions in other important fields of inquiry. It suggests that Christianity is wedded to a God who is the cause of the universe a classical conception of cause that is anachronistic; that denying the Bible was read for most of the Christian era as offering a literal account of divine creation is a significant misrepresentation of doctrinal history; and that a complete dismissal of progress requires the dismissal of scientific achievement. The author considers the extent to which attractive, secular values like tolerance and freedom of opinion are Christian in source and whether moral systems require God to underwrite them. The wide-ranging nature of Is He Out There? not only provides a review of the state of contemporary Christian apology but is a measured address of the arguments put forward in The God Delusion and indeed of the substantive commentary on Dawkinss thesis.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A very well-constructed reference book."---April Marie Wright, Trends in Ecology & Evolution"A very good and thorough overview of methods and applications to infer evolutionary relationship between recently diverged taxa." * Conservation Biology *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Outstanding. . . . A superb biographical rehabilitation of an indispensable natural scientist." * Kirkus Review starred review *"[Costa] gives naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace the biography he deserves in this definitive account. . . . Comprehensive and revelatory, this is a first-rate take on an overlooked figure in scientific history." * Publishers Weekly *"Radical by Nature uncovers fresh details about a remarkable, idiosyncratic scientist and social activist, showing how humans’ understanding of the world was fundamentally altered by his ideas." * Foreword Reviews, starred review *"Alfred Russel Wallace was perhaps the most famed naturalist of the Victorian age. . . . James T Costa’s hefty, in-depth account draws on letters, notebooks and journals to mark Wallace’s revolutionary life and achievements, on the 200th anniversary of his birth." * BBC Wildlife *"An expansive and insightful biography. . . . [Costa] offers a fine introduction to Wallace’s life and work for the uninitiated—and a revelatory portrait for those of us who thought we already knew him."---Jennie Erin Smith, Wall Street Journal"Alfred Russel Wallace, the codiscoverer of evolution by natural selection so often overshadowed by Charles Darwin, gets his star turn in this richly textured biography. . . . Deep research grounds the book, but Costa's prose is nevertheless breezy and informal, driving an often-exciting narrative." * Choice Reviews *"[Radical by Nature] is well-documented using Wallace’s own publications. . . . Costa’s biography helps us to see that Wallace was not, in fact, a case of split personality: he was engaged in a lifelong effort to find a moral agenda underlying the activities of nature and the forces that drive human interactions."---Peter Bowler, Current Biology"Costa’s stated aim of writing an updated biography has been more than realised; this book is a triumph! I tremendously enjoyed Radical by Nature and was very impressed with the depth of its scholarship. Next to an intimate portrait of this most fascinating scholar, Costa provides much detail on a critical period of scientific development and the social context in which it unfolded."---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist"A must-read not only for biogeographers, evolutionary biologists and historians of science, but also for anyone who is interested in modern history and the origins of current societies during colonial times. Alfred Russel Wallace deserves many more homages, but this loving tribute from James Costa is a major step towards putting him into the place he deserves in history."---Joaquín Hortal, Nature Ecology & Evolution"[Radical by Nature] earns its place alongside other Wallace biographies. . . . It is both a competent biography of an incredible scientist while also being a compelling narrative. . . . A new take on the life and accomplishments of Alfred Russel Wallace."---Jeremy B. Stout, Quarterly Review of Biology

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Book SynopsisIn a world supposedly governed by ruthless survival of the fittest, why do we see acts of goodness in both animals and humans? This work traces the history of this debate from Darwin. It aims to bring to life the people, the issues, and the passions that have surrounded the altruism debate.Trade Review"If evolution involves a competition for survival, then how can we explain altruism? Biologist Lee Dugatkin splendidly narrates a fast-paced tale of scientific breakthrough, genius and intellectual history as he examines the lives of seven scientists . . . whose groundbreaking work attempts to answer this question. . . . This superb tale of scientific discovery is required reading for everyone interested in the nature of human morality." * Publishers Weekly *"Exhilerating. . . . [This] is an engaging book with devoted enthusiasm for the ideas of the main protagonist, William Hamilton. . . . Dugatkin's . . . account offers much to think about."---Caroline Ash, Science"Dugatkin's biographical sketches . . . are entertaining and insightful. . . . [T]here is little doubt that efforts to explain altruism and morality in formal scientific terms are heavily influenced by the cultures and personal histories of their proponents."---David Sloan Wilson, American Scientist"Dugatkin tells the story . . . with clear prose and poise. In doing so he celebrates the internal consistencies of science and the beauty of clear thinking. Written for a general audience, this book provides vignettes featuring the lives of key thinkers, which foster an understanding of how the social context of the times influences the advance of scientific understanding." * Choice *"The Altruism Equation is very well written and extremely informative. Dugatkin's immense enthusiasm shines through every page. . . . Because the scientific concepts are explained so clearly, concisely and engagingly, newcomers to sociobiology will find The Altruism Equation an enlightening read. At the same time, it will be of interest to connoisseurs of the literature who wish to gain a panoramic view of the altruism debate. . . . The Altruism Equation is a splendid book."---David Livingstone Smith, Evolutionary Psychology"This is a tale not only about the majesty of science, but also about the hubris of scientism. One of the greatest projects of modernity is to explain to the public where science does and does not matter, and altruism is a valuable example."---Oren Harman, The New Republic"The Altruism Equation is a pleasure to read. Dugatkin's explanation of the relevant science is clear and comprehensible. He also blends the scientific views of these seven scientists with their personal and professional lives in a way that enhances our understanding of both."---David L. Hull, Isis"This book could he an especially interesting read for recent generations, who may see themselves as standing on the shoulders of their intellectual predecessors. . . . The material is carefully researched and written, and problematic issues are few."---Daniel J. Kruger, Quarterly Review of Biology"The Altruism Equation is very good popular scientific history. It provides the non-scientist with a digestible overview of a lengthy and sometimes complex development, and offers ample leads to pursue. Most importantly, it brings science to life by showing the personalities of scientists involved as well as the background beliefs which motivated their pursuits. For those interested in jumping into this area of inquiry, there is probably no better book with which to start."---Marc Baer. PhD, Metapsychology Online Reviews

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The authors make a passionate case for the link between climate change and emerging infectious diseases. These are two of the biggest threats facing humanity and in combination the risks are escalated even further. Raising awareness of this combined threat is an original, timely, and vital contribution. I am not aware of another book on this topic that comes close to this in terms of the breadth and depth of its ambition."--Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, University of Oxford "The Stockholm Paradigm provides a new perspective on how we should think about (and combat) emerging pathogens. The authors, all highly respected parasitologists, are well qualified to provide the historical context, broad synthesis, and contemporary urgency required for a shift in thinking, essentially away from reactive, for profit programs. A game changer for parasitology and public health efforts focused on emerging infectious diseases."--Joseph A. Cook, Professor of Biology, Curator of the Division of Mammals at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico

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Book SynopsisThere are few stories more remarkable than the evolution of life on earth. This Very Short Introduction presents a succinct guide to the key episodes in that story - from the very origins of life four million years ago to the extraordinary diversity of species around the globe today. Beginning with an explanation of the controversies surrounding the birth of life itself, each following chapter tells of a major breakthrough that made new forms of life possible: including sex and multicellularity, hard skeletons, and the move to land. Along the way, we witness the greatest mass extinction, the first forests, the rise of modern ecosystems, and, most recently, conscious humans. Introducing ideas from a range of scientific disciplines, from evolutionary biology and earth history, to geochemistry, palaeontology, and systematics, Michael Benton explains how modern science pieces the evidence in this vast evolutionary puzzle together, to build up an accessible and up-to-date picture of the key developments in the history of life on earth.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. The origin of life ; 3. The origin of sex ; 4. The origin of skeletons ; 5. The origin of life on land ; 6. Forests and flight ; 7. The biggest mass extinction ; 8. The origin of modern ecosystems ; 9. The origin of humans ; References and Further Reading

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Book SynopsisA new theory about the origins of consciousness that finds learning to be the driving force in the evolutionary transition to basic consciousness.What marked the evolutionary transition from organisms that lacked consciousness to those with consciousness—to minimal subjective experiencing, or, as Aristotle described it, “the sensitive soul”? In this book, Simona Ginsburg and Eva Jablonka propose a new theory about the origin of consciousness that finds learning to be the driving force in the transition to basic consciousness. Using a methodology similar to that used by scientists when they identified the transition from non-life to life, Ginsburg and Jablonka suggest a set of criteria, identify a marker for the transition to minimal consciousness, and explore the far-reaching biological, psychological, and philosophical implications.After presenting the historical, neurobiological, and philosophical foundations of their analysis, Ginsburg and Jablonka

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