Adaptation [Hardcover]

Michael R. Rose (Editor), George V. Lauder (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 012596420X | ISBN-13: 978-0125964203 | Publication Date: November 5, 1996

The study of evolutionary adaptation returns to the center stage of biology with this important volume. This innovative treatise discusses new developments in adaptation, with new methods, and new theoretical foundations, achievements, and prospects for a rich intellectual future. Once again adaptation is established as a fundamental cornerstone of evolution by means of natural selection. This is an insightful reintroduction to the themes that Darwin and his successors regarded as central to any profound understanding of biology.

Key Features
* Wide-ranging and comprehensive coverage of adaptation
* Thoroughly reviews adaptation in an up-to-date and advanced treatment
* Includes contributions by leading authorities
* Encourages various conflicting viewpoints

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rose and Lauder recruited a fabulously select group of leaders in the study of adaptation and assembled their contributions into a stimulating and informative book well worth study by any biologist. This book is full of fascinating information and well-organized discussion that ought to be read by anyone interested in the ecology or evolution of any group of organisms."
--COPEIA
"Adaptation is a valuable and well-written cautionary work for those who would execute the adaptationist program."
--SCIENCE
"Adaptation provides neither a consensus nor a synthesis on the 'criteria for demonstrating adaptation.' However, the concentration of diverse views collected in the book should promote plenty of discussion on this topic. Although Adaptation does not thoroughly cover levels of selection, it nonetheless shows that thinking about different levels has become relatively routine since 1966. A book ought to be thought-provoking or practically instructive (or both) [and in this case], Adaptation is a success. If one wants to find out about the sometimes subtle advantages and disadvantages of various empirical approaches, this book is a great place to start."
--SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
Adaptation is a scholarly, information-dense and exciting book. The range of ideas covered by the authors of this volume is breathtaking, from the deep history of adaptation to deep history and adaptation, from genes to fossils, from the evolution of biological systems to the evolution of artificial intelligence. The book is a step toward undoing more than 100 years of dwindling communication between ecologists and systematists. The result is an intriguing book, beautifully written and passionately argued. Adaptation is a scholarly, information-dense, exciting book. Adaptation is about something much more important than a few authors attempts at synthesis: it is about stimulating discussion. By being deliberately provocative in their choice of authors and placement of chapters, Rose & Lauder have created a book guaranteed to annoy as large a subset of the research populations possible; identification of the particularly heinous chapters will depend upon your own personal perspective and how strongly committed you are to that perspective.
--ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

From the Back Cover

The study of evolutionary adaptation returns to the center stage of biology with this important volume. This innovative treatise discusses foundations, achievements, and prospects for a rich intellectual future. Once again adaptation is established as a fundamental cornerstone of evolution by means of natural selection.
Key Features
* Provides wide-ranging and comprehensive coverage of adaptation
* Thoroughly reviews adaptation in an up-do-date and advanced treatment
* Includes contributions by leading authorities
* Encourages various conflicting viewpoints
Adaptation is an insightful reintroduction to the themes that Darwin and his successors regarded as central to any profound understanding of biology. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 511 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press (November 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 012596420X
• ISBN-13: 978-0125964203
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,340,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)