Ecomorphology of Fishes (Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes) [Hardcover]

Joseph J. Luczkovich (Editor), Philip J. Motta (Editor), Stephen F. Norton (Editor), Karel F. Liem (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0792337441 | ISBN-13: 978-0792337447

Ecomorphology is the comparative study of the influence of morphology on ecological relationships and the evolutionary impact of ecological factors on morphology in different life intervals, populations, species, communities, and evolutionary lineages. The book reviews early attempts at qualitative descriptions of ecomorphological patterns in fishes, especially those of the Russian school. More recent, quantitative studies are emphasised, including multivariate approaches to ecomorphological analysis, the selection of functionally important ecological and morphological variables to analyze, an experimental approach using performance tests to examine specific hypotheses derived from functional morphology, and the evolutionary interpretations of ecomorphological patterns. Six major areas of fish biology are focused on: feeding, sensory systems, locomotion, respiration, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships. The 18 papers in the volume document: (1) how the morphology of bony fishes constrains ecological patterns and the use of resources; (2) whether ecological constraints can narrow the niche beyond the limits imposed by morphology (fundamental vs. realized niche); (3) how communities of fishes are organized with respect to ecomorphological patterns; and (4) the degree to which evolutionary pressures have produced convergent or divergent morphologies in fishes. A concluding paper summarizes ecomorphological research in fishes and points out taxa that are underrepresented or are especially promising for future research.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Bedauerlicherwiese scheint es heutzutage unmöglich zu sein, zu inthaltlich so wertvolles Buch zu einem Preis anzubieten, der den Kauf auch für Doktoranden leicht macht.' Ethology, 134:4 (1997)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Springer (October 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792337441
• ISBN-13: 978-0792337447
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,539,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)