Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books

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

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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

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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/

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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/

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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

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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.

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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.

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Book Synopsis"Shot-gun marriages between evolution and faith have never worked, despite the tradition of pointing the barrel at evolution''s head. The truth is that evolution likes it single. Free, with no stoppers of thought or restrains on logic. And when lured unknowingly into the altar by those who see facts and fiction compatible, evolution has consistently stood belief up and walked away, sometimes run, toward its secular turf [The] dream of arranging evolution''s wedding with belief will remain dormant for as long as evolution is awake". Provocative, intriguing, a contemporary and concise analysis of the clashes between science and faith: In this book, Guillermo Paz-y-Miño-C examines the societal sequels in public education, the future of America''s science and academia of believing in a deity. For this evolutionary biologist, educator and public speaker, "science is [the only] refined device for resolving ordinary curiosity and a powerful liberator of superstition. He thinks of science as "the subsistence kit to defeat re-emerging fundamentalism" in the world. This open-ended book concludes: "Once embraced by all, this truly universal language -- scientific rationalism/empiricism and evolution -- shall lead us to a more cohesive understanding of nature and of our amazingly diverse human condition. Humanity''s ultimate challenge will be to collectively embrace reality, with no stoppers of thought or restrains on logic.

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Book SynopsisIn Gobekli Tepe'' near Urfa, an ancient city in south-eastern Turkey, stand 11,000 year old concentric rings of old massive T shaped pillars. The carvings by prehistoric, pre-agricultural people emphasise predators, and vultures in particular are even more prominent. Archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the vultures represented the aspiration of humans to reach high into the heavens. If the scientific thought and technological output is a measure, science has been in the same pursuit along with religion or perhaps before it, even in Gobekli Tepe. While scientific topics remain at the core of human curiosity and spirituality even today, modern science has advanced tremendously, particularly over the last two centuries, leaving the general public unconnected with science. While, the public have benefited increasingly from the technological fruits of science and science has become an integral part of their life, they have been increasingly unaware that science provides real and accessible answers to personal and societal questions. In some circles, this has bred distrust of science and its process, where personal questions are concerned. To those involved closely with science, the scientific knowledge and effort are inspirational and the scientific understanding of Nature creates a sense of awe. This book attempts to give a sense of this scientific knowledge in basic science topics while providing a social and religious context. It demonstrates to the readers that science progresses with integrity in methodology and arrives at conclusions that are robust and yet open to modification. By familiarising the readers on the science discoveries in major areas, the book is intended to persuade the reader that science takes the high road to finding knowledge and therefore is to be trusted in its conclusions, when one is confronted by apparent contradictions or denials from personal, cultural and religious perspectives. Even for the section of people who are very religious, it is shown that, in most areas, religions are not against science and do not deny scientific conclusions.

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Book SynopsisIs the traditional understanding of cause and effect in aetiology so certain that Arthur Eddington therefore proposed in 1927 "the arrow of time, or time''s arrow" involving "the ''one-way direction'' or ''asymmetry'' of time", such that "a cause precedes its effect: the causal event occurs before the event it affects. Thus causality is intimately bound up with time''s arrow"? (WK 2014) This certain view on cause and effect can be contrasted with an opposing view by Michael Dummett, who suggested instead, back in 1957, that "there was no philosophical objection to effects preceding their causes", or what is now known as "retrocausality". (WK 2014a) Contrary to these opposing views (and other ones as will be discussed in the book), aetiology (in relation to cause and effect) are neither possible (or impossible) nor desirable (or undesirable) to the extent that the respective ideologues (on different sides) would like us to believe. Of course, this questioning of different opposing views on cause and effect does not mean that the study of aetiology is useless, or that those diverse fields (related to aetiology) -- like physics, engineering, biology, philosophy, medicine, epidemiology, government, geography, spatial analysis, psychology, statistics, mathematics, economics, management, history, law, sociology, theology, and so on -- are worthless. (WK 2014b & 2014c) In fact, neither of these extreme views is plausible. Rather, this book offers an alternative (better) way to understand the future of aetiology in regard to the dialectic relationship between cause and effect -- while learning from different approaches in the literature but without favouring any one of them (nor integrating them, since they are not necessarily compatible with each other). More specifically, this book offers a new theory (that is, the pluralist theory of aetiology) to go beyond the existing approaches in a novel way, and is organised in four chapters.

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Book SynopsisIs the traditional understanding of cause and effect in aetiology so certain that Arthur Eddington therefore proposed in 1927 "the arrow of time, or time''s arrow" involving "the ''one-way direction'' or ''asymmetry'' of time", such that "a cause precedes its effect: the causal event occurs before the event it affects. Thus causality is intimately bound up with time''s arrow"? (WK 2014) This certain view on cause and effect can be contrasted with an opposing view by Michael Dummett, who suggested instead, back in 1957, that "there was no philosophical objection to effects preceding their causes", or what is now known as "retrocausality". (WK 2014a) Contrary to these opposing views (and other ones as will be discussed in the book), aetiology (in relation to cause and effect) are neither possible (or impossible) nor desirable (or undesirable) to the extent that the respective ideologues (on different sides) would like us to believe. Of course, this questioning of different opposing views on cause and effect does not mean that the study of aetiology is useless, or that those diverse fields (related to aetiology) -- like physics, engineering, biology, philosophy, medicine, epidemiology, government, geography, spatial analysis, psychology, statistics, mathematics, economics, management, history, law, sociology, theology, and so on -- are worthless. (WK 2014b & 2014c) In fact, neither of these extreme views is plausible. Rather, this book offers an alternative (better) way to understand the future of aetiology in regard to the dialectic relationship between cause and effect -- while learning from different approaches in the literature but without favouring any one of them (nor integrating them, since they are not necessarily compatible with each other). More specifically, this book offers a new theory (that is, the pluralist theory of aetiology) to go beyond the existing approaches in a novel way, and is organised in four chapters.

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Book SynopsisThis proposed book on human evolution will be a comprehensive book covering all uncovered issues relevant to human evolution. This book deals with human evolution in exhaustive detail. Up-to-date literature and work (2013-14) have been incorporated, thus including every possible piece of information relevant to the subject. Chapter 1 deals with the historical overview of the subject citing the pre-Darwinian and Darwinian eras, and also covers the genesis of human evolution with Africa as the cradle of human existence. Chapter 2 describes different species of the genus "omo" and also various theories of human dispersal. Chapter 3 is devoted to the anatomical and morphological modifications in the body plan and their role in evolving and diversifying Hominins from their Great Ape ancestors. Chapter 4 discusses evidence from molecular biology, genetics and fossils to validate Hominin evolution. Additionally, fossil evidence and lack thereof for different body parts is also described. Chapter 5 and 6 are especially devoted to the behavioral, social-cultural and cognitive aspects of human evolution. They also describe in detail the development and organization of social structure, and social systems with a note on their role in evolving humans. Chapter 7 is included to analyze the biggest controversy of modern time related to human evolution: "Ida as a missing-link". It critically examines different literature to arrive at impartial and rational conclusion about the controversy. Wherever necessary, text is supplemented with figures, ray diagrams and appendices. Appendices and bullet points are provided at the end of the book for a quick recap of the complete evolutionary process.

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Book SynopsisIn Gobekli Tepe'' near Urfa, an ancient city in south-eastern Turkey, stand 11,000 year old concentric rings of old massive T shaped pillars. The carvings by prehistoric, pre-agricultural people emphasise predators, and vultures in particular are even more prominent. Archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the vultures represented the aspiration of humans to reach high into the heavens. If the scientific thought and technological output is a measure, science has been in the same pursuit along with religion or perhaps before it, even in Gobekli Tepe. While scientific topics remain at the core of human curiosity and spirituality even today, modern science has advanced tremendously, particularly over the last two centuries, leaving the general public unconnected with science. While, the public have benefited increasingly from the technological fruits of science and science has become an integral part of their life, they have been increasingly unaware that science provides real and accessible answers to personal and societal questions. In some circles, this has bred distrust of science and its process, where personal questions are concerned. To those involved closely with science, the scientific knowledge and effort are inspirational and the scientific understanding of Nature creates a sense of awe. This book attempts to give a sense of this scientific knowledge in basic science topics while providing a social and religious context. It demonstrates to the readers that science progresses with integrity in methodology and arrives at conclusions that are robust and yet open to modification. By familiarising the readers on the science discoveries in major areas, the book is intended to persuade the reader that science takes the high road to finding knowledge and therefore is to be trusted in its conclusions, when one is confronted by apparent contradictions or denials from personal, cultural and religious perspectives. Even for the section of people who are very religious, it is shown that, in most areas, religions are not against science and do not deny scientific conclusions.

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Book SynopsisSince the 20th century, there have been many exciting achievements in the field of ecology and evolution, many of which were formulated using statistical and mathematical functions. In particular, statistical and mathematical models are a necessity for developing some sub-disciplines and theories like population genetics and ecology, neutral theory of molecular evolution and biodiversity, and machine-learning techniques for species distribution modeling. This book serves as an elementary guide to showcase some statistical and mathematical models that have been applied and used in contemporary ecological or evolutionary research. Some models may be old-fashioned, whilst some others have been further extended or developed so as to better address special research questions presented in each chapter of the book. Technical aspects of each statistical model are presented in detail to allow readers to follow and apply their own research and practices.

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Book SynopsisDarwin's theory has become so much part of science that for many it has the standing of biological law. This book challenges the basis of the Darwinian theory of evolution and brings together many discoveries from a variety of fields which cast serious doubts on Darwinian theory. The book has been written to enable non-scientists to assess the validity of the findings for themselves.Table of ContentsThe biblical creation; Darwin's theory of evolution; neo-Darwinian evolution of life on earth; bones; bone; cells; life; the evolution which actually occurred; theories about the origin and the evolution of life on earth.

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Book SynopsisWhat is Man? What is his nature? Where is he going? These are but some of the questions this book is trying to find answers to. They are questions that will take us on a fascinating intellectual journey encompassing politics, history, sociology, philosophy, religion, and science. Along the way you will encounter many great thinkers such as Aristotle and Nietzsche (to name but two) as well as be confronted by some of humanity's most sublime achievements and horrific failures. After reading this book, you will have a better understanding of humankind's potential for good and evil and our chances for survival and transcendence in the not too distant future.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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