Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books
Harvard University Press Chimpanzees and Human Evolution
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 *
£48.41
Elsevier Science Sketches of Nature
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
£26.59
Yale University Press A Brief Natural History of Civilization
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
£21.38
Liverpool University Press Is He Out There?: Debating The God Delusion
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.
£29.95
Princeton University Press Species Tree Inference
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 *
£35.70
Princeton University Press Radical by Nature
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
£29.75
Penguin Putnam Inc The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals
Book Synopsis
£15.30
Princeton University Press Social Butterflies
Book Synopsis
£31.50
The University of Chicago Press The Stockholm Paradigm
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
£33.25
Cambridge University Press Quantitative Genetics
Book SynopsisQuantitative genetics is the study of continuously varying traits which make up the majority of biological attributes of evolutionary and commercial interest. This book provides a much-needed up-to-date, in-depth yet accessible text for the field. In lucid language, the author guides readers through the main concepts of population and quantitative genetics and their applications. It is written to be approachable to even those without a strong mathematical background, including applied examples, a glossary of key terms, and problems and solutions to support students in grasping important theoretical developments and their relevance to real-world biology. An engaging, must-have textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. Given its applied focus, it also equips researchers in genetics, genomics, evolutionary biology, animal and plant breeding, and conservation genetics with the understanding and tools for genetic improvement, comprehension of the genetic basis of human Trade Review'Quantitative genetics as a scientific discipline isn't dead just yet, despite predictions of its demise over many decades. In fact, it is very much alive in the genomics era, across a wide range of disciplines, including plant and animal breeding, evolutionary genetics and human (medical) genetics. Armando Caballero's timely textbook, a translation and update from his Spanish version, combines a description of the theory and methods underlying quantitative trait variation in populations with data examples and applications from modern genome technologies. It is an excellent introduction to the field, and demonstrates once again how population and quantitative genetics theory has stood the test of time and is highly relevant today.' Peter M. Visscher, University of Queensland'Armando Caballero's work is a masterful tour through both evolutionary and applied quantitative genetics. It provides a fruitful and unusual blend of population and quantitative genetics, and it will be extremely useful for anyone who wants to learn more about either of these fields.' Michael Whitlock, University of British Columbia'As the field within genetics having arguably the deepest history, quantitative genetics continues as a lively endeavour advancing understanding of the inheritance and change of traits that are continuous in their distributions and complex in the genetic and environmental influences on them. I welcome Caballero's text for new generations of students coming up to speed in this important and challenging field. The problems and questions concluding each chapter will especially aid them in testing their growing understanding. This text will also serve as a valuable resource for established practitioners of quantitative genetics.' Ruth G. Shaw, University of MinnesotaTable of ContentsPreface; Preface to the Spanish version; 1. Continuous variation; 2. Forces of change in the allele frequencies; 3. Components of phenotypic values and variances; 4. Inbreeding and coancestry; 5. Effective population size; 6. Estimation of genetic values, variances and covariances; 7. Mutation; 8. Consequences of inbreeding; 9. Artificial selection; 10. Natural selection; 11. Genomic analysis of quantitative traits; Solution to the problems and self-assessment questions; Glossary; References; Index.
£33.24
Oxford University Press The History of Life
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
£9.49
MIT Press Ltd The Evolution of the Sensitive Soul Learning and
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
£45.60
Rudolf Steiner Press Man and Animal: Their Essential Difference
Book SynopsisWhat is the historical and evolutionary relationship between man and animal? In this classic text, based on the anthroposophical science founded by Rudolf Steiner, Poppelbaum, trained in Biology, compares the outer forms of man and animal, revealing their essential differences and contrasting inner experiences. Drawing a bold and clear delineation between the fundamental nature of man and that of the animal, Poppelbaum argues that human beings are not the accidental outcome of animal development, but the hidden source of evolution itself. He goes on to discuss the true relationship of both man and animal to their environment, and develops a critique of contemporary theories regarding human and animal evolution. He argues that, rather than a simple reflex of the nervous system, the human spirit is a microcosmic reflection of the spiritual macrocosm, and our individual consciousness is a crucial seed for future evolution. 'To be man is to know the animals and all the creatures of the earth; it is to recognize our responsibility towards these beings, once of the same order as ourselves, but now obliged to live beside us in an incompleteness that never ceases its appeal to human beings - warning us to make ourselves worthy of the trust invested in us.' - Hermann PoppelbaumTrade ReviewHERMANN POPPELBAUM, Dr Phil. (1891 - 1979) was an anthropologist, psychologist, philosopher, anthroposophist, teacher and author of numerous books. An expert on the works of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861 - 1925), Poppelbaum was a visiting lecturer in anthropology and psychology at Alfred University, New York. In 1949 he became director of the Education Section at the Goetheanum, Switzerland, and in 1963 the Department of Natural Sciences.
£12.34
Indiana University Press Once We All Had Gills Growing Up Evolutionist in
Book SynopsisRaff tells how and why he became an evolutionary biologist and describes some of the vibrant and living science of evolutionTrade ReviewAt once a cri de coeur from an eminent scientist on behalf of his profession, Raff's work is also an engaging and informative jaunt through the richly diverse history of evolution as a phenomenon and a course of study. * Publishers Weekly *Science teachers and students, as well as working scientists and laypersons with some knowledge of biology, will find this an interesting and inspiring book, not only about the life and work of a scientist, but the importance of science to society as well. * Foreword Reviews *Raff's book is . . . a fascinating story of how a young boy interested in natural history became a scientist . . . and also a polemic arguing about the importance of science and its defense against the powers of ignorance. * www.skepticblog.org *This is an excellent introduction to evolutionary thinking and an inspiration to those who may be just starting on their career (or those in need of a bit of encouragement to keep plugging along). . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *Once We All Had Gills strikes just the right balance of drama, humor, good stories, and science that makes not only for entertaining reading, but also delivers important insights into evolutionary biology research. * Quarterly Review of Biology *Table of ContentsPreface AcknowledgmentsPart I: Becoming a Naturalist1. Space-Time2. Layers of the Past3. An Age of Dinosaurs4. A School a Minute5. In the Natural World6. Transformations7. Going South8. Learning to Love the Bomb9. On the Road to Chiapas10. The Masked MessengerPart II: Finding Evolution, Founding Evo-Devo11. Evolution as Science12. Dining with Darwin13. Life with Sea Urchins14. Embryos Evolving15. Evolution in the Tasman Sea16. An Alternate Present17. Biology Meets Fossils Part III: Strange New World18. Darwin's Day in Court19. Creationist Makeovers20. Evolution MattersSelected BibliographyIndex
£23.79
Indiana University Press Life Traces of the Georgia Coast Revealing the
Book SynopsisShows how ancient trace fossils directly relate to modern traces and tracemakers, among them, insects, grasses, crabs, shorebirds, alligators, and sea turtlesTrade ReviewThis book provides a hefty summary of [Martin's] research; it is scientifically rigorous but still tells a good story, and is often quite humorous. Detailed descriptions of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate traces are accompanied by many photos and diagrams. . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *Anthony Martin has done an excellent job in presenting the field of ichnology in an engaging and entertaining way that will hopefully inspire a new generation of ichnologists. * Priscum *For a teacher who takes students to beaches or barrier islands, this is an excellent comprehensive guide that reveals the surface and depths of traces found in maritime forests, dunes, beaches and tidal flats. Martin's book is not just a low country boil, it is a feast salted with humor and insights. * This View of Life *This tour de force is of far greater general interest than the title might suggest...[It] provides a hefty summary of [Martin's] research; it is scientifically rigorous but still tells a good story, and is often quite humorous. Detailed descriptions of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate traces are accompanied by many photos and diagrams....Highly recommended.Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments1. Introduction to Ichnology of the Georgia Coast2. History of the Georgia Coast and Its Ichnology3. Tracemaker Habitats and Substrates4. Marginal-Marine and Terrestrial Plants5. Terrestrial Invertebrates6. Marginal-Marine Invertebrates7. Terrestrial Vertebrates, Part I: Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles8. Terrestrial Vertebrates, Part II: Birds and Mammals9. Marginal-Marine and Marine Vertebrates10. Trace Fossils and the Georgia Coast11. Future Studies, Future TracesAppendixBibliographyIndex
£40.50
Indiana University Press Bernissart Dinosaurs and Early Cretaceous
Book SynopsisDeals with the iconic dinosaur Iguanodon and its worldTrade Review[T]here is much to be delved into here, and dinosaur scholars will be especially well served by a swathe of welcome reviews of some lesser-known Cretaceous localities, and unexpected gems . . . This book warrants a place on the shelf of researchers interested in terrestrial ecosystems, especially dinosaurs, and is a good addition to the ongoing Life of the Past series from Indiana University Press. * Quarterly Review of Biology *Although some of the chapters are more technical than others, the way in which [this book] is compiled offers a nice flow of information and can be used as a great reference for Early Cretaceous research. I would suggest this book to anyone who has not only an interest in vertebrate paleontology but also in geology. Well done! * Priscum *Table of ContentsPreface by David B. NormanPart 1. New Investigations into the Iguanodon Sinkhole at Bernissart and Other Early Cretaceous Localities in the Mons Basin (Belgium)1. Bernissart and the Iguanodons: Historical Perspective and New Investigations2. The Attempted Theft of Dinosaur Skeletons during the German Occupation of Belgium (1914–1918) and Some Other Cases of Looting Cultural Possessions of Natural History3. A Short Introduction to the Geology of the Mons Basin and the Iguanodon Sinkhole, Belgium4. 3D Modeling of the Paleozoic Top Surface in the Bernissart Area and Integration of Data from Boreholes Drilled in the Iguanodon Sinkhole5. The Karstic Phenomenon of the Iguanodon Sinkhole and the Geomorphological Situation of the Mons Basin during the Early Cretaceous6. Geodynamic and Tectonic Context of Early Cretaceous Iguanodon-Bearing Deposits in the Mons Basin 7. Biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Sediments Overlying the Wealden Facies in the Iguanodon Sinkhole at Bernissart 8. On the Age of the Bernissart Iguanodons9. The Paleoenvironment of the Bernissart Iguanodons: Sedimentological Analysis of the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Facies in the Bernissart Area 10. Mesofossil Plant Remains from the Barremian of Hautrage (Mons Basin, Belgium), with Taphonomy, Paleoecology, and Paleoenvironment Insights 11. Diagenesis of the Fossil Bones of Iguanodon bernissartensis from the Iguanodon Sinkhole 12. Histological Assessment of Vertebrate Remains in the 2003 Bernissart Drill 13. Early Cretaceous Dinosaur Remains from Baudour (Belgium) 14. Geological Model and Cyclic Mass Mortality Scenarios for the Lower Cretaceous Bernissart Iguanodon Bonebeds Part 2. The Bernissart Iguanodons and Their Kin15. Iguanodontian Taxa from the Lower Cretaceous of England and Belgium16. The Brain of Iguanoian Taxa (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous of England and Belgium16. The Brain of Iguanodon and Mantellisaurus: Perspectives on Ornithopod Evolution17. Hypsilophodon foxii and Other Smaller Bipedal Ornithischian Dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous of Southern England18. The African Cousins of the European Iguanodontids 19. Anatomy and Relationships of Bolong yixianensis, an Early Cretaceous Iguanodontoid Dinosaur from Western Liaoning, China20. A New Basal Hadrosauroid Dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Kazakhstan Part 3. Early Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems In and Outside Europe21. Dinosaur Remains from the "Sables Verts" of the Eastern Paris Basin22. Dinosaur Faunas from the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian–Albian) of Spain23. New Early Cretaceous Multituberculate Mammals from the Iberian Peninsula24. Danish Dinosaurs: A Review25. The Age of Lycoptera Beds (Jehol Biota) in Transbaikalia (Russia) and Correlation with Mongolia and China26. A New Basal Ornithomimosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, Northeast China 27. Australia's Polar Early Cretaceous Dinosaurs28. Assessment of the Potential for a Jehol Biota–like Cretaceous Polar Fossil Assemblage in ictoria, Australia 29. Freshwater Hybodont Sharks in Early Cretaceous Ecosystems: A Review Part 4. Cretaceous Vertebrate Faunas after the Bernissart Iguanodon30. The Late Cretaceous Continental Vertebrate Fauna from Iharkút: A Review31. First Discovery of Maastrichtian Terrestrial Vertebrates in Rusca Montană Basin32. First Late Maastrichtian Vertebrate Assemblage from Provence33. Reassessment of the Posterior Brain Region in Multituberculate Mammals Index
£59.50
Cambridge University Press Evolution of the House Mouse
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£98.80
Cambridge University Press Charles Darwin The Beagle Letters
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£24.76
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc Darwin
Book SynopsisDesigned for use in a broad range of courses in the humanities, Darwin''s theory is laid out in a concise general Introduction and followed up in short chapter introductions. Each chapter concludes with an excerpt from Darwin''s correspondence, commenting on the work in question, and its significance, impact, and reception. Two short appendixes are includedthe first three chapters from Malthus, On Population, which gave Darwin the idea for natural selection and the paper by Wallace that motivated Darwin to abandon the Big Species Book and write Origin of Species.Trade ReviewProvides a magisterial overview of all of Darwin's ideas in a brief and useful format. This book will become the mainstay of the courses I teach related to Darwin. --Timothy Lenoir, Stanford UniversityAn excellent selection. There is nothing else like it available in print, and the price makes it very attractive for use in courses. . . . overall the editors did a superb job of choosing those excerpts from Darwin's published works and his correspondence and notebooks that will give the reader a sense of the full range of his interests and the substance of his ideas. The editorial remarks are . . . perceptive and directly relevant to the content. --Gene Cittadino, New York UniversityThis is simply an outstanding volume . . . exactly what I was looking for. I especially appreciate the inclusion of the Malthus and Wallace, plus the notebook selections. I don't know of another Darwin anthology that does this. It fills a real need. --Lynn K. Nyhart, University of Wisconsin
£17.09
Hackett Publishing Co, Inc On Evolution
Book SynopsisDesigned for use in a broad range of courses in the humanities, Darwin''s theory is laid out in a concise general Introduction and followed up in short chapter introductions. Each chapter concludes with an excerpt from Darwin''s correspondence, commenting on the work in question, and its significance, impact, and reception. Two short appendixes are includedthe first three chapters from Malthus, On Population, which gave Darwin the idea for natural selection and the paper by Wallace that motivated Darwin to abandon the Big Species Book and write Origin of Species.Trade ReviewProvides a magisterial overview of all of Darwin's ideas in a brief and useful format. This book will become the mainstay of the courses I teach related to Darwin. --Timothy Lenoir, Stanford UniversityAn excellent selection. There is nothing else like it available in print, and the price makes it very attractive for use in courses. . . . overall the editors did a superb job of choosing those excerpts from Darwin's published works and his correspondence and notebooks that will give the reader a sense of the full range of his interests and the substance of his ideas. The editorial remarks are . . . perceptive and directly relevant to the content. --Gene Cittadino, New York UniversityThis is simply an outstanding volume . . . exactly what I was looking for. I especially appreciate the inclusion of the Malthus and Wallace, plus the notebook selections. I don't know of another Darwin anthology that does this. It fills a real need. --Lynn K. Nyhart, University of Wisconsin
£39.09
Cambridge University Press Understanding Human Evolution
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£39.99
Cambridge University Press The Correspondence of Charles Darwin Volume 30 1882
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£90.24
Cambridge University Press Mating Males
Book SynopsisWritten in a conversational style to appeal to those without specialist knowledge of the field, Mating Males provides an overview of mammalian reproduction from the male perspective. It covers mating behaviour, reproductive anatomy and modes of copulation and includes a chapter devoted to the special case of human sexual behaviour.Trade Review'In this book Professor Glover draws on his detailed comparative studies of reproduction to provide insight into the evolution of the male reproductive tract as well as male mating behaviour. He uses his quirky sense of humour to challenge our thoughts on various aspects of the subject, and stimulates us to reconsider some well-entrenched 'facts'. For students, his writing emphasises the importance of challenging dogma, and exposes the excitement of scientific endeavour. Inevitably, some of the questions he raises remain open-ended, providing the challenge for future investigators to examine them further. His easy style makes the book a pleasure to read, it is a 'page-turner' that gathers one up in the excitement of discovery and the development of ideas about an important subject.' Michael Bryden, University of Sydney'… biologists will learn a lot from [this book] …' The Biologist'… an easy and almost soothing read … interesting and informative. … Glover knows the male mammal's reproductive system like the back of his hand, and Mating Males is a useful introduction to the subject for biologists, students, and even curious general readers.' The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; 1. The system; 2. The preamble; 3. The equipment and the product; 4. The scrotum; 5. The delivery; 6. The human male; Appendix; Index.
£65.54
Cambridge University Press Shrews Chromosomes and Speciation
Book SynopsisThe chromosome complement (karyotype) often differs between related mammalian species (including humans vs chimpanzees), such that evolutionary biologists muse whether chromosomal difference is a cause or a consequence of speciation. The common shrew is an excellent model to investigate this problem because of its many geographical races (potential species) differing chromosomally, and its several sibling species (recently speciated forms) that are also chromosomally different. This system is an exceptional opportunity to investigate the role of chromosomes in speciation and this volume reflects detailed research following these approaches. Highlights include the demonstration that chromosomal re-arrangements can be associated with complete loss of gene flow and thus speciation and that selection within species hybrid zones may lead to de-speciation rather than speciation. This book represents an extraordinarily detailed consideration of the role of chromosomes in speciation in one astTrade Review'I found Shrews, Chromosomes and Speciation fascinating, and an enjoyable read. This volume will be a welcome addition to the library of any evolutionary biologist or graduate student interested in how the interactions of chromosomes and the genome shape diversity.' Sally Potter, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of Contents1. Milestones in common shrew chromosomal research Jan Zima and Jeremy B. Searle; 2. Introducing the common shrew Nikolay A. Shchipanov, Jan Zima and Sara Churchfield; 3. Morphology and genetics of the common shrew: general features Alina Mishta and Jeremy B. Searle; 4. Phylogeography Susan Thaw, Thomas A. White, Anna A. Bannikova and Jeremy B. Searle; 5. Chromosomal differentiation in the common shrew and related species Nina S. Bulatova, Larisa S. Biltueva, Svetlana V. Pavlova, Natalia S. Zhdanova and Jan Zima; 6. Phylogenetic relationships of chromosomal races Thomas A. White, Jan M. Wojcik and Jeremy B. Searle; 7. Meiosis and fertility associated with chromosomal heterozygosity Pavel M. Borodin, Stanisław Fedyk, Włodzimierz Chętnicki, Anna A. Torgasheva, Svetlana V. Pavlova and Jeremy B. Searle; 8. Chromosomal hybrid zones Stanisław Fedyk, Svetlana V. Pavlova, Włodzimierz Chętnicki and Jeremy B. Searle; 9. Gene flow between chromosomal races and species Glenn Yannic, Patrick Basset, Agnès Horn and Jacques Hausser; 10. Geometric morphometric tests for phenotypic divergence between chromosomal races P. David Polly and Jan M. Wojcik; 11. Is it really the chromosomes? Patrick Basset, Glenn Yannic and Jacques Hausser; 12. Further divergence: the role of ecology and behaviour Boris I. Sheftel, Natalia V. Moraleva and Jacques Hausser; 13. Climate, diversification and refugia in the common shrew: evidence from the fossil record P. David Polly; 14. Shrews, chromosomes and speciation Jeremy B. Searle, Jan Zima and P. David Polly.
£73.14
Cambridge University Press Early Events in Monocot Evolution 83 Systematics Association Special Volume Series Series Number 83
Book SynopsisTracing the evolution of one of the most ancient major branches of flowering plants, this is a wide-ranging survey of state-of-the-art research on the early clades of the monocot phylogenetic tree. It explores a series of broad but linked themes, providing for the first time a detailed and coherent view of the taxa of the early monocot lineages, how they diversified and their importance in monocots as a whole. Featuring contributions from leaders in the field, the chapters trace the evolution of the monocots from largely aquatic ancestors. Topics covered include the rapidly advancing field of monocot fossils, aquatic adaptations in pollen and anther structure and pollination strategies and floral developmental morphology. The book also presents a new plastid sequence analysis of early monocots and a review of monocot phylogeny as a whole, placing in an evolutionary context a plant group of major ecological, economic and horticultural importance.Table of ContentsList of contributors; Preface; 1. A well-supported phylogenetic framework for the monocot order Alismatales reveals multiple losses of the plastid NADH dehydrogenase complex and a strong long-branch effect W. J. D. Iles, S. Y. Smith and S. W. Graham; 2. The fossil record of non-commelinid monocots S. Y. Smith; 3. Is syncarpy an ancestral condition in monocots and core eudicots? D. D. Sokoloff, M. V. Remizowa and P. J. Rudall; 4. Diversification of pollen and tapetum in early-divergent monocots C. A. Furness; 5. Macroecological correlates of global monocot species richness F. A. Jones, B. Sobkowiak, C. D. L. Orme, R. Govaerts and V. Savolainen; 6. In time and with water... the systematics of alismatid monocotyledons D. H. Les and N. P. Tippery; 7. Evolution of floral traits in relation to pollination mechanisms in Hydrocharitaceae N. Tanaka, K. Uehara and J. Murata; 8. Patterns of bract reduction in racemose inflorescences of early-divergent monocots M. V. Remizowa, D. D. Sokoloff and P. J. Rudall; 9. Recent progress in the phylogenetics and classification of the Araceae S. J. Mayo, J. Bogner and N. Cusimano; 10. The first evolutionary classification of the Araceae: A. Engler's natural system S. J. Mayo and J. Bogner; 11. Aroid floral morphogenesis in relation to phylogeny D. Barabé; 12. Some observations on the homology of the daffodil corona R. W. Scotland; 13. Anther, ovule and embryological characters in Velloziaceae in relation to the systematics of Pandanales M. G. Sajo, R. Mello-Silva and P. J. Rudall; 14. Contrasting patterns of support among plastid genes and genomes for major clades of the Monocotyledons J. I. Davis, J. R. McNeal, C. F. Barrett, M. W. Chase, J. I. Cohen, M. R. Duvall, T. J. Givnish, S. W. Graham, G. Petersen, J. C. Pires, O. Seberg, D. W. M. Stevenson and J. Leebens-Mack; Index.
£81.69
Cambridge University Press An Apes View of Human Evolution
Book SynopsisOur closest living relatives are the chimpanzee and bonobo. We share many characteristics with them, but our lineages diverged millions of years ago. Who in fact was our last common ancestor? Bringing together ecology, evolution, genetics, anatomy and geology, this book provides a new perspective on human evolution. What can fossil apes tell us about the origins of human evolution? Did the last common ancestor of apes and humans live in trees or on the ground? What did it eat, and how did it survive in a world full of large predators? Did it look anything like living apes? Andrews addresses these questions and more to reconstruct the common ancestor and its habitat. Synthesising thirty-five years of work on both ancient environments and fossil and modern ape anatomy, this book provides unique new insights into the evolutionary processes that led to the origins of the human lineage.Trade Review'Peter Andrews draws on more than four decades of research and personal recollections in this engaging and thought-provoking review of how the evolution of apes informs us about human origins. Importantly, Andrews goes beyond the fossil evidence of the teeth and bones to reconstruct the paleobiology and paleoecology of our antecedents, and thus offers a unique perspective on the remarkable evolutionary events that ultimately gave rise to modern humans. This is an extraordinary tale worth telling, and there is no one better than Peter Andrews to tell it.' Terry Harrison, New York University'Ape evolution extends back in time more than 20 million years earlier than that of humans, with a more diverse array of species. Yet, there has not been a single book dedicated to interpreting that rich fossil record in itself or with respect to the emergence of humans. An Apes View of Human Evolution by Peter Andrews now fills that void. Reflecting Andrews' unique - for a paleoanthropologist - early background in forestry, the book's perspective centers on paleoenvironments, how they have influenced diversity among apes and the spread of apes throughout the Old World during the Miocene. The book also focuses on the sites and fossils that Andrews has worked on most extensively, which span much of the Miocene and Pliocene. Thus, it is both a guide to the record of ape evolution leading to the emergence of humans as well as a captivating personal narrative of exploration.' Jay Kelley, Arizona State University'Peter Andrews is a holistic thinker and this book is the culmination of his long career weaving primate evolution, human evolution and palaeoecology into an insightful and coherent narrative. Here he tells us not just what we know about our evolutionary past, but why and how we know it in the first place. This book is a rigorous and insightful explanation of hominid evolution from the early Miocene onwards, providing readers with the theoretical and interpretive tools necessary for thinking independently about the subject - this will benefit not just students, but those of us already engaged professionally with the discipline. In addition, it's something of a memoir - unapologetically personal at times, yet clear and unbiased in the presentation of information. It will replace any advanced teaching or reference text that you've previously considered an indispensable resource!' Kris Kovarovic, Durham University'There are excellent summaries at the ends of each chapter and also at intervals within the main text to emphasise the key points. … this is an easy and enjoyable read. …an essential book for anyone interested in fossil apes, but also it will interest anyone who wants to know more about some of the personalities and achievements of 20th century palaeoanthropologists and that certainly broadens the audience.' Bill Sellers, Primate Eye'It is clearly written in textbook style, with just the right amount of background to set the stage, just the right amount of detail to keep readers engaged, and useful summaries at the end of each chapter. It is a reflection of a great scientist's career. I am enthusiastic in my recommendation of this volume to all who wish to learn more about ape evolution and human origins.' David R. Begun, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; 1. How can we recognise common ancestors?; Part I. Apes – Their Morphology and Behaviour: 2. Morphology and behaviour of living apes; 3. Human and ape phylogenies; 4. Review of fossil apes; Part II. Environments and Palaeoenvironments: 5. Structure and composition of ape environments; 6. Environmental indicators; Part III. Review of Fossil Apes - Morphology and Environment: 7. The view from the Early Miocene; 8. The environment in the Early Miocene; 9. The view from the Middle Miocene; 10. Specialised apes from the Middle Miocene; 11. The environment in the middle Miocene; 12. A second view from Europe; 13. The environment in Europe; 14. Late Miocene to Pleistocene apes; 15. Apes, hominins and environment in the Late Miocene; Part IV. Last Common Ancestor: 16. Putting together the evidence; 17. An ape's view of human evolution; References and further reading; Index.
£37.99
Cambridge University Press The Correspondence of Charles Darwin Volume 23 1875
Book SynopsisThis volume is part of the definitive edition of letters written by and to Charles Darwin, the most celebrated naturalist of the nineteenth century. Notes and appendixes put these fascinating and wide-ranging letters in context, making the letters accessible to both scholars and general readers. Darwin depended on correspondence to collect data from all over the world, and to discuss his emerging ideas with scientific colleagues, many of whom he never met in person. The letters are published chronologically: Volume 23 includes letters from 1875, the year in which Darwin wrote and published Insectivorous plants, a botanical work that was a great success with the reading public, and started writing Cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. The volume contains an appendix on the 1875 anti-vivisection debates, with which Darwin was closely involved, giving evidence before a Royal Commission on the subject.Trade ReviewReviews of earlier volumes: 'Nothing in the recent history of science quite tops the achievement of the volumes of Darwin correspondence. It is our own Human Genome Project.' Annals of Science'… a superb series … beautifully produced, beautifully readable, efficiently indexed, supportively but not gossipily annotated.' The Times Literary Supplement'Every now and then … publishing and academe work together to produce books so splendid that it seems ungrateful not to acquire them: this promises to be another such.' The Guardian'… this authoritative work is a model of scholarship in both its comprehensiveness and supporting documentation which provides a rich source of background, biographical and bibliographical detail.' The Naturalist'These volumes are indeed treasures of high scholarship … every real science library needs this series.' Trends in Ecology and Evolution'… slowly but surely we are getting an unbelievable source of information on one of the greatest of scientists who ever lived and thought and worked. Who knows what treasures future generations will uncover? For now, as always, the edition is exemplary, with huge amounts of pertinent information in the notes and with amazingly accurate transcriptions of Darwin's appalling handwriting. A true monument of scholarship. My fervent hope is that I shall live to see the completion.' Michael Ruse, The Quarterly Review of Biology'… this latest volume of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin shares the same high production values, attention to detail and scholarly scrupulousness evident in all its predecessors. Amongst the six appendices, for example, are a list of all the periodical reviews of Insectivorous Plants and a hugely valuable account of Darwin's dealings with the question of vivisection, including the text of his testimony to the Royal Commission on the vexed issue.' Gowan Dawson, British Journal for the History of ScienceTable of ContentsList of illustrations; List of letters; Introduction; Acknowledgments; List of provenances; Note on editorial policy; Darwin/Wedgwood genealogy; Abbreviations and symbols; The correspondence; Appendix I. Translations; Appendix II. Chronology; Appendix III. Diplomas; Appendix IV. Presentation lists for Insectivorous plants and Climbing plants 2d ed.; Appendix V. Reviews of Insectivorous plants; Appendix VI. Darwin and vivisection; Manuscript alterations and comments; Biographical register and index to correspondents; Bibliography; Notes on manuscript sources; Index.
£112.10
Cambridge University Press Evolution and Development of Fishes
Book SynopsisFish, or lower vertebrates, occupy the basal nodes of the vertebrate phylogeny, and are therefore crucial in interpreting almost every feature of more advanced vertebrates, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Recent research focuses on combining evolutionary observations - primarily from the fish fossil record - with developmental data from living fishes, in order to better interpret evolutionary history and vertebrate phylogeny. This book highlights the importance of this research in the interpretation of vertebrate evolution, bringing together world-class palaeontologists and biologists to summarise the most interesting, current and cutting-edge topics in fish evolution and development. It will be an invaluable tool for researchers in early vertebrate palaeontology and evolution, and those particularly interested in the interface between evolution and development.Trade Review'Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the literature that provides thoughtful and comprehensive coverage of key topics in the evolution and development of fishes, both extant and extinct.' Jacqueline F. Webb, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsIntroduction Zerina Johanson, Martha Richter and Charlie Underwood; 1. The evolution of fishes through geological time John A. Long, Brian Choo and Alice Clement; 2. Comparative development of Cyclostomes Tetsuto Miyashita, Stephen A. Green and Marianne E. Bronner; 3. The ordovician enigma: fish, first appearances and phylogenetic controversies Ivan J. Sansom and Plamen Andreev; 4. The evolution of vertebrate dermal jaw bones in the light of maxillate placoderms You-An Zhu, Per A. Ahlberg and Min Zhu; 5. Doliodus and pucapampellids: contrasting perspectives on stem chondrichthyan morphology John G. Maisey, Philippe Janvier, Alan Pradel, John S. S. Denton, Allison Bronson, Randall Miller and Carole J. Burrow; 6. The evolution of endoskeletal mineralisation in chondrichthyan fish: development, cells and molecules Melanie Debiais-Thibaud; 7. Plasticity and variation of skeletal cells and tissues and the evolutionary development of actinopterygian fishes Brian K. Hall and P. Eckhard Witten; 8. Origin, development and evolution of the fish skull Martha Richter and Charlie Underwood; 9. Evolution, development and regeneration of fish dentitions Gareth J. Fraser and Alex P. Thiery; 10. Development of head muscles in fishes and notes on phylogeny-ontogeny links: a basis for evo-devo and developmental research on fish muscles Janine M. Ziermann and Rui Diogo; 11. Evolutionary development of the postcranial and appendicular skeleton in fishes Jürgen Kriwet and Cathrin Pfaff; 12. Evolution of vertebrate reproduction Kate Trinajstic, Catherine Boisvert, John A. Long and Zerina Johanson; 13. Links between thyroid hormone alterations and developmental changes in the evolution of the Weberian apparatus Fedor N. Shkil and Daria V. Kapitanova; 14. Pharyngeal remodelling in vertebrate evolution Anthony Graham and Victoria Shone; 15. Evolution of air breathing and lung distribution among fossil fishes Camilla Cupello, Gäel Clément and Paulo M. Brito; Index.
£105.45
Cambridge University Press Computational Phylogenetics
Book SynopsisA comprehensive account of basic and advanced material in phylogeny estimation, focusing on computational and statistical issues. No background in biology or computer science is assumed, and there is minimal use of mathematical formulas, making the book accessible to students from biology, computer science, statistics, and applied mathematics.Table of ContentsPreface; Glossary; Notation; Part I. Basic Techniques: 1. Brief introduction to phylogenetic estimation; 2. Trees; 3. Constructing trees from true subtrees; 4. Constructing trees from qualitative characters; 5. Distance-based tree estimation methods; 6. Consensus and agreement trees; 7. Supertrees; Part II. Molecular Phylogenetics: 8. Statistical gene tree estimation methods; 9. Multiple sequence alignment; 10. Phylogenomics: constructing species phylogenies from multi-locus data; 11. Designing methods for large-scale phylogeny estimation; Appendix A. Primer on biological data and evolution; Appendix B. Algorithm design and analysis; Appendix C. Guidelines for writing papers about computational methods; Appendix D. Projects; References; Index.
£50.34
Cambridge University Press Wild Chimpanzees
Book SynopsisAs our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees offer tantalizing clues about the behavior of early human ancestors. This book provides a rich and detailed portrait of chimpanzee social life in the wild, synthesizing hundreds of thousands of hours of research at seven long-term field sites. Why are the social lives of males and females so different? Why do groups of males sometimes seek out and kill neighboring individuals? Do chimpanzees cooperate when they hunt monkeys? Is their vocal behaviour like human speech? Are there different chimpanzee ''cultures''? Addressing these questions and more, Adam Arcadi presents a fascinating introduction to the chimpanzee social universe and the challenges we face in trying to save this species from extinction. With extensive notes organized by field site and an appendix describing field methods, this book is indispensable for students, researchers, and anyone else interested in the remarkable and complex world of these intelligent apes.Trade Review'… the first book to compile the available information about field studies of wild chimpanzees. To do so has required an immense effort on the part of the author, Adam Clark Arcadi. The long-term field studies at Gombe, Kibale, Budongo, Mahale, Bossou, and Tai, together with a large number of shorter term studies, are synthesised on a topic by topic basis. This gives the reader an overall perspective of wild chimpanzees which has hitherto been lacking. We see many features of behaviour and social organisation that all chimps have in common. And we also see ecological and cultural differences between different chimp communities across Africa. … a good book for all those seeking to understand our closest relatives in the animal kingdom: undergraduates in particular will benefit from this synthesis of all that is known at the present time. [Simultaneously], the author writes well so his book is accessible to the general reader.' Vernon Reynolds, University of Oxford'Wild Chimpanzees is a superbly original and incisive overview of the behavior, ecology and conservation of a critically important species. Arcadi provides a broad primate context for his synthesis, presents a rich history of the main field-sites and the behavioral differences associated with them, and explores the evolutionary significance of numerous types of cooperation, competition and communication. Arcadi's clarity of exposition, systematic consideration and crisp thinking make this an invaluable source for students and professionals alike.' Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Arcadi's Wild Chimpanzees weaves new research on the social behavior of wild chimpanzees into an accessibly written account of our closest relatives. Highly recommended for the library of anyone interested in new frontiers of great ape research.' Craig Stanford, University of Southern California'… along with the clear explanations that are rooted in theory, makes this a perfect volume to assign in undergraduate courses in primatology. In fact, I used this book for an undergraduate seminar on chimpanzee behavioral ecology. One reason that the students enjoyed this volume was that Arcadi provides an objective voice … I think this is very well suited for an academic's bookshelf …' Zarin Machanda, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Primates, apes, and the study of chimpanzee social behavior; 2. Seven long-term field studies; 3. Chimpanzee fission-fusion social organization and its conservation implications; 4. Sex differences in ranging and association patterns; 5. Female social relationships and the defining influence of offspring care; 6. Male social relationships and the dynamic interplay of competition and cooperation; 7. Sexual behavior: conflicting strategies of males and females; 8. Coalitionary lethal aggression between and within communities; 9. Hunting, eating, and sharing meat; 10. Communication: the form and content of signals; 11. Community differences in grooming postures and tool use: innovation, social learning, and the question of 'culture'; Epilogue; Appendix: field methods for studying wild chimpanzees.
£61.75
Cambridge University Press The Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Ethics
Book SynopsisRecently there has been a major revival of interest in the connections between evolutionary theory, especially that of Darwin, and moral reasoning and action. This wide-ranging and clearly written book traces the history of evolutionary ethics and takes readers through the arguments involved.Trade Review'No comprehensive understanding of where the debates over evolutionary ethics currently lie would be possible without The Cambridge Handbook. It is an indispensable guide to critical philosophical disputes.' Scott M. James, MetascienceTable of ContentsIntroduction Michael Ruse and Robert J. Richards; Part I. Historical: 1. Ethics, evolution and the a priori: Ross on Spencer and the French sociologists Hallvard Lillehammer; 2. Nietzsche's rejection of nineteenth-century evolutionary ethics Jeffrey O'Connell; 3. American pragmatism, evolution, and ethics Trevor Pearce; 4. The path to the present Abraham H. Gibson; 5. Social Darwinism and market morality: a modern-day view for evolutionary ethics Naomi Beck; Part II. For Evolutionary Ethics: 6. Darwinian evolutionary ethics Michael Ruse; 7. Human morality: from an empirical puzzle to a metaethical puzzle Richard Joyce; 8. Evolution and the epistemological challenge to moral realism Justin Horn; 9. Evolutionary naturalism and valuation Richard A. Richards; 10. Evolutionary ethics, a theory of moral realism Robert J. Richards; 11. Moral mismatch and abolition Ben Fraser; Part III. Against Debunking Arguments: 12. Moral realism and evolutionary debunking arguments Russ Shafer-Landau; 13. Why Darwinism does not debunk objective morality William J. FitzPatrick; 14. Debunking arguments: mathematics, logic, and modal security Justin Clarke-Doane; 15. Evolution and the missing link (in debunking arguments) Uri D. Leibowitz and Neil Sinclair; 16. Better than our nature? Evolution and moral realism, justification and progress Michael Vlerick; Part IV. Elaborations: 17. Darwinian ethics: biological individuality and moral relativism Frédéric Bouchard; 18. Evolutionary psychology, feminist critiques thereof, and the naturalistic fallacy Lynn Hankinson Nelson; 19. A theological evaluation of evolutionary ethics Michael L. Peterson.
£25.99
Cambridge University Press Evolving Animals
Book SynopsisCovering all the main animal groups, from jellyfish to mammals, this book considers key questions about evolution. Its conversational, nontechnical style makes it an ideal text for beginning undergraduates and general readers. The chapters cover both evolutionary pattern (trees, relationships) and evolutionary process (mechanisms, including Darwinian natural selection).Trade Review'Wallace Arthur, a renowned evolutionary biologist, has written another of his excellent and easily approachable books introducing concepts, ideas and evidence of evolution. This new book is written in an informal style that a non-biologist should be able to follow without difficulty. He covers animal evolution from its beginning in deep time, and explains current ideas simply … Highly recommended for schools and biology students of all levels as well as the general reader.' Jennifer A. Clack, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge'In Evolving Animals, the reader is taken on a tour through the major events in the history of animal life, from the Cambrian explosion to vertebrate origins, from water-to-land transitions to human evolution - with the benefit of enjoying the crystal-clear prose of a consummate writer who knows well how to produce a widely accessible book without any loss of accuracy or sacrifice in coverage. One of the world leaders in evolutionary developmental biology, Wallace Arthur draws extensively from this field to reconstruct animal evolution from a developmental perspective. In the end, more than being a book on zoology this is a book on evolution - adaptation, novelties, convergence, evolutionary trends in complexity of structure and behaviour, but also speciation and extinction - punctuated by frequent insights into the history of biology and informative glimpses of the new frontiers of phylogenetic reconstruction.' Alessandro Minelli, University of Padova, Italy'Wallace Arthur has written a clear, lively and enjoyable guide to the animal kingdom and its evolution. He leads the reader through what we know about animals, their forms, relationships, and origins in the deep past, but more importantly he tells how we know it in a way that's accessible to a wide range of readers.' Rudolf A. Raff, Indiana University'As an old-fashioned zoologist/embryologist, I enjoyed reading [this], and undergraduate biologists will gain a breadth of understanding of animals unattainable from any other book I know. This is a good little book, bringing zoology back into the academic gamut.' Jack Cohen, The BiologistTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgements; 1. What is an animal?; 2. Before there were animals; 3. How to make a fossil; 4. The Cambrian explosion; 5. How to make a species; 6. Jellyfish and their kin; 7. How to make a tree; 8. The enigmatic urbilaterian; 9. Animal symmetry and heads; 10. A plethora of worms; 11. Trends in animal complexity; 12. Where the octopus is king; 13. How to make an animal; 14. Exoskeletons galore; 15. Extinction; 16. Mouth first, mouth second; 17. Comparing embryos; 18. Larvae, mouthparts and moulting; 19. The animal toolkit; 20. Vertebrate origins and evolution; 21. From water to land to water; 22. Variation and inheritance; 23. Evolutionary novelties; 24. Human origins and evolution; 25. Animal plasticity; 26. The nature of adaptation; 27. The direction of evolution; 28. Animal extremophiles; 29. Extraterrestrial animals?; 30. The ghost in the machine; Appendix; References; Index.
£29.99
Cambridge University Press Fungal Biology in the Origin and Emergence of Life
Book SynopsisThe rhythm of life on Earth includes several strong themes contributed by Kingdom Fungi. So why are fungi ignored when theorists ponder the origin of life? Casting aside common theories that life originated in an oceanic primeval soup, in a deep, hot place, or even a warm little pond, this is a mycological perspective on the emergence of life on Earth. The author traces the crucial role played by the first biofilms â products of aerosols, storms, volcanic plumes and rainout from a turbulent atmosphere â which formed in volcanic caves 4 billion years ago. Moore describes how these biofilms contributed to the formation of the first prokaryotic cells, and later, unicellular stem eukaryotes, highlighting the role of the fungal grade of organisation in the evolution of higher organisms. Based on the latest research, this is a unique account of the origin of life and its evolutionary diversity to the present day.Trade Review'In a wonderful introduction to this wide and exciting subject, and ensuring accessibility to non-specialist readers, key features of fungal biology are introduced, as is current thinking on the beginnings of the solar system, the formation of the Earth and its Moon, and the possible origins of the building blocks of life, including panspermia, the ET origin of life on earth. Central in this thought provoking book is a consideration of the definition of what is life, from the philosophical to the rigidly scientific. This definition is key to deciding on what was LUCA, the last universal common ancestor. Current views on this are well reviewed, critically analysed and dissected. A fascinating read, a myco-centric version of the origin of the eukaryotes, firmly dismissing the animal biased theories.' J. L. Faull, Birkbeck, University of London'Fungi and animals share a deep Precambrian root from which our unicellular ancestors diverged more than one billion years ago. This common beginning is evident when we look at similarities between fungus and animal at the level of genes and proteins, as well as the grander disjunction between both groups of eukaryotes and every other form of life on earth. Mycologist David Moore details the evolutionary history of the fungi in his new book and its relationship to the origins and subsequent development of life on land. This rich and compelling story provides a crucial mycological perspective on some of the biggest questions in modern biology.' Nicholas Money, Miami University, Ohio'Why are fungi ignored when theorists ponder the origins of life on Earth? This book provides a refreshing mycological perspective on this fascinating question. Moore presents well-supported arguments for the origin and emergence of life on this planet. This quite accessible book will change many a mind on this topic.' Adele Kleine, chicagobotanic.org'In this new and challenging book, David [Moore] aims to place fungi centre-stage in the origin and evolution of life … carefully researched and argued … original and stimulating thesis.' IMA Fungus'This wonderful, refreshing take on origins-of-life studies reviews the present state of affairs, including the missing elements of fungal biology. Every biologist in this field needs to read this book. Moore provides a highly intelligent and reasoned assessment of the role of fungal biology in the discussion of the origins and early evolution of life on Earth. Highly recommended.' P. K. Strother, Choice'… pitched at a level where a very wide range of readers should feel rewarded by the many sage views clearly expressed, and the fair-handed discussions of multiple conflicting hypotheses about the subject matter … This volume is particularly recommended to those mycologists who focus on issues of fungal phylogeny.' Richard A. Humber, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of Contents1. Learning from life on Earth in the present day; 2. Essentials of fungal cell biology; 3. First, make a habitat; 4. The building blocks of life; 5. An extraterrestrial origin of life?; 6. Endogenous synthesis of prebiotic organic compounds on the young Earth; 7. Cooking the recipe for life; 8. 'It's life, Jim…'; 9. Coming alive: what happened and where?; 10. My name is LUCA; 11. Towards eukaryotes; 12. Rise of the fungi; 13. Emergence of diversity; References; Index.
£39.89
Cambridge University Press Field and Laboratory Methods in Animal Cognition
Book SynopsisWould you ask a honeybee to point at a screen and recognise a facial expression? Or ask an elephant to climb a tree? While humans and non-human species may inhabit the same world, it''s likely that our perceptual worlds differ significantly. Emphasising Uexküll''s concept of ''umwelt'', this volume offers practical advice on how animal cognition can be successfully tested while avoiding anthropomorphic conclusions. The chapters describe the capabilities of a range of animals - from ants, to lizards to chimpanzees - revealing how to successfully investigate animal cognition across a variety of taxa. The book features contributions from leading cognition researchers, each offering a series of examples and practical tips drawn from their own experience. Together, the authors synthesise information on current field and laboratory methods, providing researchers and graduate students with methodological advice on how to formulate research questions, design experiments and adapt studies to diTrade Review'Field and Laboratory Methods in Animal Cognition, edited by Bueno-Guerra and Amici, manages also to implicitly teach some of the fundamentals of cognition in the way it showcases methods. By illuminating how similar cognitive principles need to be tested differently across species, the existence of the volume itself proves the importance of the 'Umwelt' concept it champions. With a star-studded lineup of authors, the book serves as a snapshot of who is doing what and how in the field of comparative cognition.' Alison L. Greggor, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsForeword Josep Call; Introduction: the concept of umwelt in experimental animal cognition Nereida Bueno-Guerra and Federica Amici; 1. Ants – individual and social cognition Zhanna Reznikova; 2. Bats – using sound to reveal cognition Yossi Yovel and Stefan Greif; 3. Bees – the experimental umwelt of honeybees Randolf Menzel; 4. Carib grackles – field and lab work on a tame, opportunistic island icterid Simon Ducatez, Sarah E. Overington, Jean-Nicolas Audet, Marine Battesti and Louis Lefebvre; 5. Chicken – cognition in the poultry yard Cinzia Chiandetti and Giorgio Vallortigara; 6. Chimpanzees – investigating cognition in the wild Roman M. Wittig and Catherine Crockford; 7. Dolphins and whales – taking cognitive research out of the tanks and into the wild Volker B. Deecke; 8. Elephants – studying cognition in the African Savannah Lucy A. Bates; 9. Fish – how to ask them the right questions Catarina Vila Pouca and Culum Brown; 10. Hermit crabs – information gathering by the hermit crab, pagurus bernhardus Robert W. Elwood; 11. Hyenas – testing cognition in the umwelt of the spotted hyena Lily Johnson-Ulrich, Kenna D. S. Lehman, Julie W. Turner and Kay E. Holekamp; 12. Lizards – measuring cognition in lizards: practical challenges and the influence of ecology and social behaviour Martin J. Whiting and Daniel W. A. Noble; 13. Meerkats – identifying cognitive mechanisms underlying meerkat coordination and communication: experimental designs in their natural habitat Marta Manser; 14. Octopuses – mind in the waters Jennifer A. Mather and Michael J. Kuba; 15. Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) – cognitive and communicative abilities Irene M. Pepperberg; 16. Sharks – elasmobranch cognition Tristan L. Guttridge, Kara E. Yopak and Vera Schluessel; 17. Spiders – hints for testing cognition and learning in jumping spiders Elizabeth M. Jakob, Skye M. Long and Margaret Bruce; 18. Tortoises – cold-blooded cognition: how to get a tortoise out of its shell Anna Wilkinson and Ewen Glass; Epilogue Nereida Bueno-Guerra.
£44.64
Cambridge University Press Patterns of Human Growth
Book SynopsisThis completely revised edition provides a synthesis of the forces that shaped the evolution of the human growth pattern, the biocultural factors that direct its expression, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate individual development, and the biomathematical approaches needed to analyze and interpret human growth. After covering the history, philosophy and biological principles of human development, the book turns to the evolution of the human life cycle. Later chapters explore the physiological, environmental and cultural reasons for population variation in growth, and the genetic and endocrine factors that regulate individual development. Using numerous historical and cultural examples, social-economic-political-economic forces are also discussed. A new chapter introduces controversial concepts of community effects and strategic growth adjustments, and the author then integrates all this information into a truly interactive biocultural model of human development. This reTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Background to the study of human growth; 2. Basic principles of human growth; 3. The evolution of human growth; 4. Evolution of the human life cycle; 5. Growth variation in living human populations; 6. Genetic and neuroendocrine regulation of human growth; 7. What makes people grow? Love, hope, community effects, and strategic growth in the context of environmental factors influencing human development; 8. A biocultural view of human growth; Glossary; References; Index.
£47.49
Cambridge University Press Human Evolution Beyond Biology and Culture
Book SynopsisBoth natural and cultural selection played an important role in shaping human evolution. Since cultural change can itself be regarded as evolutionary, a process of gene-culture coevolution is operative. The study of human evolution - in past, present and future - is therefore not restricted to biology. An inclusive comprehension of human evolution relies on integrating insights about cultural, economic and technological evolution with relevant elements of evolutionary biology. In addition, proximate causes and effects of cultures need to be added to the picture - issues which are at the forefront of social sciences like anthropology, economics, geography and innovation studies. This book highlights discussions on the many topics to which such generalised evolutionary thought has been applied: the arts, the brain, climate change, cooking, criminality, environmental problems, futurism, gender issues, group processes, humour, industrial dynamics, institutions, languages, medicine, music, Trade Review'This is a timely book, helping us to move out of equilibrium-based approaches that served well in the twentieth century towards a view of the contemporary world as complex, dynamic, emergent and evolutionary. Jeroen C. J. M. van den Bergh invites the reader into an exciting adventure applying an evolutionary approach to social, environmental and policy sciences. In an impressive manner, the book collects theoretical and empirical insights from diverse fields on the role of evolutionary thinking in understanding and acting on all kinds of real-world complex systems and their dynamics. But the book is more than a comprehensive synthesis, it is visionary and talks about evolutionary policies and transitions towards sustainability, innovations to curb climate change, reconnecting to the biosphere, as well as possible evolutionary futures for the human population. Human Evolution beyond Biology and Culture is exciting, inspiring and forward looking. Highly recommended!' Carl Folke, Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden'Van den Bergh's book is an outstanding, long-missing synthesis of current strands of evolutionary theorizing in the natural, social and cultural sciences. It fascinates the reader by its thought-provoking claim of a unity of the evolutionary approach across disciplinary boundaries and by the practical implications derived for better understanding environmental problems, climate change, economic development, technology evolution and many more present day topics.' Ulrich Witt, Max Planck Institute of Economics, GermanyTable of ContentsPart I. Prevue: 1. Making the improbable probable; 2. The world according to evolution; Part II. Evolutionary Biology: 3. Pre-Darwinism, Darwinism and neo-Darwinism; 4. Advanced ideas in evolutionary biology and genetics; Part III. Bridging Natural and Social Sciences: 5. Evolution of social behaviour in animals and humans; 6. Group selection in biology and the social sciences; Part IV. Evolutionary Social Sciences: 7. Evolutionary theories of human culture; 8. Evolutionary economics; 9. Evolution of organisations and institutions; 10. Technological evolution; Part V. Evolutionary Cultural History: 11. Pre-history until the rise of agriculture; 12. Industrialisation and technological history; Part VI. Evolutionary Environmental and Policy Sciences: 13. Survival of the greenest; 14. Evolving solutions for climate change; 15. Evolutionary policy and politics; 16. Evolutionary futures.
£40.72
Cambridge University Press The Correspondence of Charles Darwin
Book SynopsisThis volume is part of the definitive edition of letters written by and to Charles Darwin, the most celebrated naturalist of the nineteenth century. Notes and appendixes put these fascinating and wide-ranging letters in context, making the letters accessible to both scholars and general readers. Darwin depended on correspondence to collect data from all over the world, and to discuss his emerging ideas with scientific colleagues, many of whom he never met in person. The letters are published chronologically: volume 27 includes letters from 1879, the year in which Darwin completed his manuscript on movement in plants. He also researched and published a biography of his grandfather Erasmus. The Darwins spent most of August on holiday in the Lake District. In October, Darwin''s youngest son, Horace, became officially engaged to Ida Farrer, after some initial resistance from her father, who, although an admirer of Charles Darwin, thought Horace a poor prospect for his daughter.Trade Review'What makes the volumes such fun is how one learns more and more of the everyday life of being a scientist, and this brings me back to the politicking with which I opened this review … I love the Darwin Correspondence. I learn important things about Darwin's religious beliefs. I learn gossipy things about the sociology of science …' Michael Ruse, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsList of illustrations; List of letters; Introduction; Acknowledgments; List of provenances; Note on editorial policy; Darwin/Wedgwood genealogy; Abbreviations and symbols; The Correspondence; Appendixes: I. Translations; II. Chronology; III. Diplomas; IV. Presentation list for Erasmus Darwin; V. Reviews of Erasmus Darwin; Manuscript alterations and comments; Biographical register and index to correspondents; Bibliography; Notes on manuscript sources; Index.
£105.45
Cambridge University Press Biological Extinction
Book SynopsisThe rapidly increasing human pressure on the biosphere is pushing biodiversity into the sixth mass extinction event in the history of life on Earth. The organisms being exterminated are integral working parts of our planet''s life support system,and their loss is permanent. Like climate change, this irreversible loss has potentially devastating consequences for humanity. As we come to recognise the many ways in which we depend on nature, this can pave the way for a new ethic that acknowledges the importance of co-existence between humans and other species. Biological Extinction features chapters contributed by leading thinkers in diverse fields of knowledge and practice, including biology, economics, geology, archaeology, demography, architecture and intermediate technology. Drawing on examples from various socio-ecological systems, the book offers new perspectives on the urgent issue of biological extinction, proposing novel solutions to the problems that we face.Trade Review'Many policy makers, especially those trained in economics, can describe the management of environmental systems as if we (humans) are best suited to be in the 'driver's seat', making all the decisions to assure our wellbeing is the sole consideration. They should all read the chapters in this volume! Extinction is an irreversible externality whose full impact is uncertain. By combining the insights of social and natural scientists, Dasgupta, Raven, and McIvor have assembled essays that will change this view. They are accessible, engaging, and important.' V. Kerry Smith, Emeritus Regents Professor, Arizona State University'Partha Dasgupta, unexcelled among economists for his contributions to ecological economics, and Peter Raven, revered for his leadership in biodiversity science, have combined to assemble a collection of papers by a virtual who's who of experts on the subject of biodiversity loss and sustainability. This volume, the product of an obviously remarkable meeting at the Vatican, will be a touchstone for all those concerned with our declining biodiversity, and the implications for the future welfare of humanity.' Simon A. Levin, James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University'This volume provides an informative reference for policy makers and practitioners, offering new perspectives on biological extinction that adopt principles of social justice and sustainability.' R. A. Delgado, Jr, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction Partha Dasgupta and Peter Raven; Prologue. Extinction: what it means to us Martin Rees; 1. Extinction in deep time: lessons from the past? Neil Shubin; 2. Biodiversity and global change: from creator to victim Timothy Lenton; 3. The state of the world's biodiversity Stuart Pimm and Peter Raven; 4. Extinction threats to life in the ocean and opportunities for their amelioration Jenna Sullivan, Vanessa Constant and Jane Lubchenco; 5. Out of the soil: soil (dark matter biodiversity) and societal 'collapses' from Mesoamerica to the Mesopotamia and beyond Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach and Nicholas Dunning; 6. The Green Revolution and crop biodiversity Prabhu Pingali; 7. Population: the current state and future prospects John Bongaarts; 8. Game over? Drivers of biological extinction in Africa Calestous Juma; 9. Why we're in the sixth great extinction and what it means to humanity Partha Dasgupta and Paul Ehrlich; 10. The consequences of biodiversity loss for human well-being Charles Perrings and Ann Kinzig; 11. Terra incognita: in search of the disconnect Mathis Wackernagel; 12. How do we stem biodiversity loss? Gretchen Daily and Stephen Polasky; 13. Can smart villages help to stem biodiversity loss? Brian Heap, John Holmes and Bernie Jones; 14. The new design condition: planetary urbanism + resource scarcity + climate change John Hoal.
£36.16
Cambridge University Press Animal Anomalies
Book SynopsisAmong the offspring of humans and other animals are occasional individuals that are malformed in whole or in part. The most grossly abnormal of these have been referred to from ancient times as monsters, because their birth was thought to foretell doom; the less severely affected are usually known as anomalies. This volume digs deeply into the cellular and molecular processes of embryonic development that go awry in such exceptional situations. It focuses on the physical mechanisms of how genes instruct cells to build anatomy, as well as the underlying forces of evolution that shaped these mechanisms over eons of geologic time. The narrative is framed in a historical perspective that should help students trying to make sense of these complex subjects. Each chapter is written in the style of a Sherlock Holmes story, starting with the clues and ending with a solution to the mystery.Trade Review'With rigorous arguments presented in captivating prose and crystal-clear drawings so rich in information, this new masterpiece by Lewis Held is a unique introduction to the genetics of development. Here, monstrous and normal illuminate each other, as products of the same developmental logic. This book is full of inspiring insights, on a par with the works of the great developmental biologists highlighted in its pages.' Alessandro Minelli, University of Padova, Italy, and author of Understanding Development'Orthodoxy is so rife in science these days it is strangling originality. The spread of 'best practice' as well as the related belief that there is only one ideal way to understand and explain things has stifled both diversity and imagination. … Lewis Held shows us there is another way - to look at the natural world open-mouthed and open-minded. We are taken on a lively ramble through myriad natural phenomena in countless species and the attempts of scientists to understand them. There is an infectious sense of the wonder and complexity of everything. There are innumerable nuggets to be found and it is fun. … His book sings like the descant in a choral rendition of a familiar hymn. I recommend it, but don't try and read it all in one go!' Peter A. Lawrence, University of Cambridge, UK'In this wonderful exploration of development, Lewis Held uses both familiar and less-well-known examples of frogs, flies, dogs, and cats to delve deeply into the underlying biological principles their traits can illustrate … Held also describes the genetic basis of traits that pet-owners find endearing … In addition to this fascinating exploration of genetic mechanisms and their outcomes is another idea that I have always valued in Lewis Held's work: the respect for pioneering insights and discoveries by earlier researchers like Curt Stern, Walter Gehring, Ernst Hadorn, and others. I remember hearing a faculty advisor once criticize a new graduate student for planning to cite a research article that was more than a couple years old as being irrelevant to 'modern research'. Thankfully, writers like Held remind us that the story of discovery is a long one, and critical insights can come from anywhere.' Jim Thompson, Drosophila Information Service'Recommended. Graduate students and faculty.' D. A. Brass, ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface; Part I. Frogs: 1. The introspective frog; 2. Two-headed tadpoles; 3. Extra-legged frogs; Part II. Flies: 4. The double-jointed fly; 5. The four-winged fly; 6. The naked fly; Part III. Dogs: 7. The Shar-Pei; 8. The bully whippet; 9. The Great Pyrenees; Part IV. Cats: 10. The blotched tabby; 11. The Siamese cat; 12. The calico cat.
£104.50
Cambridge University Press Understanding Natural Selection
Book SynopsisNatural selection, as introduced by Charles Darwin in the Origin of Species (1859), has always been a topic of great conceptual and empirical interest. This book puts Darwin''s theory of evolution in historical context showing that, in important respects, his central mechanism of natural selection gives the clue to understanding the nature of organisms. Natural selection has important implications, not just for the understanding of life''s history single-celled organism to man but also for our understanding of contemporary social norms, as well as the nature of religious belief. The book is written in clear, non-technical language, appealing not just to philosophers, historians, and biologists, but also to general readers who find thinking about important issues both challenging and exciting.Trade Review'Michael Ruse has written many books on evolutionary theory, but this may well be his best: succinct, clear, and comprehensive. Your interpretation of Darwin's accomplishment may differ from Ruse's - mine does - but he offers the classic view of Darwin as having introduced mechanism into biology. His treatment of natural selection runs from an intense examination of Darwin's development of the concept to its role in population genetics and morality. It's a gem of a book.' Robert J. Richards, Morris Fishbein Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Science, University of Chicago, USA'Michael Ruse at his best! This consummate scholar, educator, and communicator on all things evolutionary has gifted us with a masterwork on Darwin's crowning achievement - the theory of natural selection. We now have the definitive 'sourcebook' on this important topic.' Michael L. Peterson, Professor of Philosophy, Asbury Theological Seminary, USA'For decades, Michael Ruse has been a leader in thinking about natural selection. This book is a quick, thorough survey of the subject. Plus, it offers some important recent twists. A masterful writer, Ruse quickly covers the basics before guiding readers outside traditional boxes so they might consider new possibilities. Understanding Natural Selection is certain to encourage debate and investigation. It also will inspire further interdisciplinary synthesis.' Joe Cain, Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology, University College London, UK'In this brief book written for the general reader, Michael Ruse skillfully weaves together the history and philosophy of science to explore natural selection, the concept at the heart of Darwin's celebrated theory of evolution. The writing is brisk, engaging, thoughtful and at times fun, typical of the kind of work we have come to expect from someone who has a devoted a lifetime of study to understanding Darwin and his theory.' Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis, Professor of the History of Science, University of Florida, USA'Natural selection is one of the most important and contested ideas in modern science, helping us understand much of the functional design and order we observe in living nature. In his inimitable way, Michael Ruse gives the definitive account of natural selection, from its Darwinian origins and metaphorical foundation to the many historical, philosophical and scientific controversies that have swirled about it in the last century and a half. If you want to understand natural selection, you can do no better than a careful reading of this compact, highly informative and lively book. It is truly a tour de force.' Richard A. Richards, Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, University of Alabama, USATable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The origin of species; 2. Organism and mechanism: rival root metaphors; 3. 'The non-Darwinian revolution?'; 4. The synthesis; 5. Is natural selection a vera causa?; 6.The positive case; 7.Time for a change?; 8. Natural selection and its discontents; Envoi; Index.
£39.99
Cambridge University Press Wild Chimpanzees
Book SynopsisAs our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees offer tantalizing clues about the behavior of early human ancestors. This book provides a rich and detailed portrait of chimpanzee social life in the wild, synthesizing hundreds of thousands of hours of research at seven long-term field sites. Why are the social lives of males and females so different? Why do groups of males sometimes seek out and kill neighboring individuals? Do chimpanzees cooperate when they hunt monkeys? Is their vocal behaviour like human speech? Are there different chimpanzee ''cultures''? Addressing these questions and more, Adam Arcadi presents a fascinating introduction to the chimpanzee social universe and the challenges we face in trying to save this species from extinction. With extensive notes organized by field site and an appendix describing field methods, this book is indispensable for students, researchers, and anyone else interested in the remarkable and complex world of these intelligent apes.Trade Review'… the first book to compile the available information about field studies of wild chimpanzees. To do so has required an immense effort on the part of the author, Adam Clark Arcadi. The long-term field studies at Gombe, Kibale, Budongo, Mahale, Bossou, and Tai, together with a large number of shorter term studies, are synthesised on a topic by topic basis. This gives the reader an overall perspective of wild chimpanzees which has hitherto been lacking. We see many features of behaviour and social organisation that all chimps have in common. And we also see ecological and cultural differences between different chimp communities across Africa. … a good book for all those seeking to understand our closest relatives in the animal kingdom: undergraduates in particular will benefit from this synthesis of all that is known at the present time. [Simultaneously], the author writes well so his book is accessible to the general reader.' Vernon Reynolds, University of Oxford'Wild Chimpanzees is a superbly original and incisive overview of the behavior, ecology and conservation of a critically important species. Arcadi provides a broad primate context for his synthesis, presents a rich history of the main field-sites and the behavioral differences associated with them, and explores the evolutionary significance of numerous types of cooperation, competition and communication. Arcadi's clarity of exposition, systematic consideration and crisp thinking make this an invaluable source for students and professionals alike.' Richard Wrangham, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Arcadi's Wild Chimpanzees weaves new research on the social behavior of wild chimpanzees into an accessibly written account of our closest relatives. Highly recommended for the library of anyone interested in new frontiers of great ape research.' Craig Stanford, University of Southern California'… along with the clear explanations that are rooted in theory, makes this a perfect volume to assign in undergraduate courses in primatology. In fact, I used this book for an undergraduate seminar on chimpanzee behavioral ecology. One reason that the students enjoyed this volume was that Arcadi provides an objective voice … I think this is very well suited for an academic's bookshelf …' Zarin Machanda, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Primates, apes, and the study of chimpanzee social behavior; 2. Seven long-term field studies; 3. Chimpanzee fission-fusion social organization and its conservation implications; 4. Sex differences in ranging and association patterns; 5. Female social relationships and the defining influence of offspring care; 6. Male social relationships and the dynamic interplay of competition and cooperation; 7. Sexual behavior: conflicting strategies of males and females; 8. Coalitionary lethal aggression between and within communities; 9. Hunting, eating, and sharing meat; 10. Communication: the form and content of signals; 11. Community differences in grooming postures and tool use: innovation, social learning, and the question of 'culture'; Epilogue; Appendix: field methods for studying wild chimpanzees.
£43.30
Nova Science Publishers Inc Molecular Evolution of Aquatic Organisms'
Book SynopsisA biomarker is a biochemical, cellular, physiological or behavioral variation that can be measured in tissue or body fluid samples or at the level of whole organisms that provides evidence of exposure to and/or effects of one or more chemical pollutants or radiations. Based on the facts related to the existence of contaminant stressors, an understanding of chemical modes of toxicity can be incorporated with diagnostic markers of aquatic animal physiology to help understand the health status of aquatic organisms in the field. New approaches in functional genomics and bioinformatics can help discriminate individual chemicals, or groups of chemicals among complex mixtures that may contribute to adverse biological effects. By using these recent methodologies, it could be useful to shed light on the molecular evolution of the biomarkers, and which role and functionality can be better understood based on exploring the relative evolution pathways in several aquatic organisms. PhD students and scientists with interests on physiology, ecotoxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, molecular evolution and aquatic science disciplines will find this book very useful, based on the concepts and the relative biomarkers study cases, analyzed from the evolutionary point of view.Table of ContentsFor more information, please visit our website at:https://novapublishers.com/shop/molecular-evolution-of-aquatic-organisms-biomarkers/
£113.59
Nova Science Publishers Inc The Origin of Species by Means of Natural
Book SynopsisThe Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, published in 1859 sold out on its first day. It is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology and is based on Darwins experiences while onboard the H. M. S. Beagle. The sixth edition is often considered the definitive work and contains many additions and corrections to the original book.
£247.99
Nova Science Publishers Inc Our Animal Condition and Social Construction
Book SynopsisOur species origin has its roots in ancestral habits, behaviors and survival drive, through changing environmental conditions, and crystallized during millennia in basic neurobehavioral circuits, be it as predators or potential prey: we were not born in a mother-of-pearl cradle and protected by magic agents. Placed on the thread of time, modern cultural contexts: norms, priorities, values -- appear as "newly born". This bio-cultural interaction and "dystopia" carved our identity, genetic expression and the possible origin of beliefs, resulting in an arch of possible behaviors and cultural phenotypes. This book offers evidence -- as a way to acquire conscience -- of evolutive grounds and socio-cultural ecology upon which our brain organisation and behavioral constructs derived. Among those, shared basic behavioral drives with non-human primates. The biological nature of our construction drags millenniums of species trials with variable rates of survival times. They provide traces of a variable and multiple evolutive chains. The emergence of humans with a sophisticated language allowed the development of complex virtual constructs based on symbolism and the instruments of culture, which has enhanced cognitive capacity and emotional interaction supported by processes anchored in neural networks distributed within cortical and subcortical levels. Basic, essential neural connectivities were preserved during the evolutionary development of the species. Which and how much of our current drives -- individually and as a global community- are driven by ancestral, inherited traits imprinted in our animal condition? This issue pertains to our identity as a species, our social constructions, and ecological interaction. The biological (animal) matrix and inheritance are usually segregated from the social and cultural construction. Although sophistication of our cultural development tends to "set up a divisive fault" from our animal condition, primitive foundations of non-human animal behavior (survival, territory, reproduction, prevalence, access to nutrients) are basic templates and underlie essential individual and group basic drives and cultural constructs. Humans have not ceased from being territorial (whether applied to virtual or material dimensions). In our time and through human history various forms of social inequities were expressed. On evolutive terms, the notion of individual "social status" within the social structure (rights, priorities) in a gregarious community with hierarchical organization, generated the probability of an individual ascending or descending the hierarchy within the said organization: the potential figure of leader or the subordinate or marginalized. Is there an evolutive antecedent for human social inequities? How to construct a different future? Post-industrial societies became increasingly dependent on material consumerism and technological cultures to the point of "embraining" them, conceptually becoming technological hybrids. It represents a developmental "must" or an uncontrolled "spin-off" of human inventiveness, affecting our future? It ought to be taken conscience of, at the social and political level. Construction of supernatural agents played a significant role in socialization/domestication processes. Agents with intentionality flourished through altered states of conscience or under fear from natural phenomena, or attributed to supposed inhabitants of the Natural Kingdom or virtual beings. This imaginary universe, reinforced by ritual behaviors, contributed to control personal/collective distress of various possible origins, and conditioned our "degrees of emotional and cognitive freedom".Table of ContentsFor more information, please visit our website at:https://novapublishers.com/shop/our-animal-condition-and-social-construction/
£72.24
Nova Science Publishers Inc Mechanisms of Evolution
Book SynopsisOur planet is crowded with a spectacular diversity of living creatures. As a most peculiar fact, the oldest of these are in general the most primitive whereas the most recent are the most advanced. This counterintuitive observation raises the question of the direction of evolution. Is it proceeding progressively and, if so, how can such a direction be compatible with natural selection? A central feature of the evolutionary process has come about as a result of continuous modifications of individual developmental programs. The author of this book has made the original discovery that there is a temporal correlation between the processes of development and evolution. The analysis of this correlation has led to several fresh ideas of the mechanisms of evolution embracing biological as well as human cultural evolution; ideas that have initiated an analysis of evolution discussed at length in this book. The author suggests an operational definition of the concept of complexity and a method by means of which it can be measured. The analysis of complexity has led to the notion of the evolutionary process characterized progressively though stepwise increasing complexity all over its biological and human cultural manifestations. A general conclusion proposed by many theorists is that adaptive natural selection is unable to explain the progressive evolution of life. However, the present author has introduced an alternative selection mechanism that works independently of environmental conditions. Within this frame of explanation, the concept of progress is promoted. In this book, we embark on an innovative, exploratory and interdisciplinary adventure, step-by-step following the author towards his quest of investigating evolution, its mechanismsTable of ContentsFor more information, please visit our website at:https://novapublishers.com/shop/mechanisms-of-evolution/
£113.59
Broadview Press Ltd On the Origin of Species
Book SynopsisCharles Darwin's On The Origin of Species, in which he writes of his theories of evolution by natural selection, is one of the most important works of scientific study ever published.This unabridged edition also includes a rich selection of primary source material: substantial selections from Darwin's other works (Autobiography, notebooks, letters, Voyage of the Beagle, and The Descent of Man) and selections from Darwin's sources and contemporaries (excerpts from Genesis, Paley, Lamarck, Spencer, Lyell, Malthus, Huxley, and Wallace).Trade Review“This edition of The Origin of Species is a welcome addition to the field. This volume brings together all the important primary material necessary to understanding Darwin and his milieu, giving students of Victorian science and the history of evolutionary biology a wonderful resource. Carroll combines Darwin's own work—including excerpts from his notebooks and letters, as well as appropriate passages from The Descent of Man—with excerpts from important precursors, supporters, and fellow scientists. The edition, in bringing all these materials together for the first time, is invaluable.” - Lesley B. Cormack, University of Alberta“A pioneer in applying Darwinian thought to the analysis of literary texts, Joseph Carroll makes the Darwinian revolution beautifully intelligible in this edition by providing both a fine introduction and an illuminating collection of historical materials.” - Don Brown, University of California, Santa Barbara"Joseph Carroll, a pre-eminent Darwinian in the humanities and a world-class scholar, has produced a definitive edition of The Origin of Species, with a generous selection of other writings by Darwin and related authors. The critical and historical introduction—almost a small book in itself—is a major accomplishment, so well written, well informed, and altogether intelligent. The volume as a whole will be invaluable." - Harold Fromm, University of ArizonaTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction The Classic Status of The Origin of Species Plan of the Introduction Darwin’s Subject The Historical Moment of The Origin of Species Darwin’s Intellectual Character The Lamarckian and Spencerian Alternative to Darwinism The Inception and Gestation of Darwin’s Theory Darwin’s Evolutionary Psychology The Nature of the Darwinian Revolution Recommendations for Further Reading Works Cited and Source Texts Charles Darwin: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextOn the Origin of Species by Means of Natural SelectionAn Historical Sketch of the Progress of Opinion onthe Origin of SpeciesContentsTextGlossary of the Principal Scientific Terms Usedin the Present VolumeIndexAppendix A: From The Autobiography of Charles DarwinAppendix B: From Voyage of the Beagle: Excerpts from Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle (1839; 2nd ed. 1845)Appendix C: From Darwin’s NotebooksAppendix D: From the 1844 Manuscript Francis Darwin’s Description of the Manuscript Extract from a Chapter on Natural Selection Appendix E: LettersAppendix F: From The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (1871)Appendix G: Contextual Materials Creationism and Natural Theology The First Book of Moses called GENESIS William Paley, from Natural Theology; or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, collected from the appearances of nature (1802) Pre-Darwinian Speculations on Evolution: Lamarck and Spencer Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, from Zoological Philosophy (1809) Herbert Spencer From Social Statics (1851) From First Principles (1862) From Principles of Biology (1864), vol. 1, part 3, chapter 12 From Autobiography (1904) Thomas Malthus, from An Essay on the Principle of Population (6th ed., 1826) Charles Lyell, from Principles of Geology (1830-33) The Co-Discovery of Natural Selection: Alfred Russel Wallace, “On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type” (1858) Thomas Henry Huxley on the Historical Situation of The Origin of Species From “Evolution in Biology” (1878) From The Origin of Species (1860) From “Criticisms on The Origin of Species” (1864) From “Charles Darwin” (1882) From “On the Reception of The Origin of Species” (1887) Register of NamesIndex to the Introduction, Darwin’s Historical Sketch, and the Appendices
£18.00
Nova Science Publishers Inc Natural Selection: Biological Processes, Theory &
Book SynopsisIn evolution, natural selection is the gradual, non-random, process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. In this book, the authors present current research in the biological processes, theory and role in evolution of natural selection. Topics include evolutionary transitions in mathematical modelling complexity using evolutionary systemic modelling; natural selection applications for algorithmic computation; allozymes, and DNA and natural selection in the mollusc population.
£159.74
Nova Science Publishers Inc Deterministic & Random Evolution
Book SynopsisAfter Isaac Newton''s great success in celestial mechanics, a world view of determinism was held by many scientists in the 1700 and 1800''s. This ended with the development of quantum mechanics, which introduced randomness at a fundamental level of our understanding of nature. In this book, the author introduces basic mathematical concepts for deterministic and random evolution. Among these are stability, bifurcation, hysteresis, time scales, expected value and variance. The gambler''s ruin problem, growth processes in biology, and Ehrenfest''s urn model illustrate random evolutions. The author also uses mathematical concepts to briefly discuss the arrow of time, determinism and free will, and creation vs. evolution.
£159.74
