Overview

Scaling relationships have been a persistent theme in biology at least since the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo. Because scaling relationships are among the most general empirical patterns in biology, they have stimulated research to develop mechanistic hypotheses and mathematical models. While there have been many excellent empirical and theoretical investigations, there has been little attempt to synthesize this diverse but interrelated area of biology. In an effort to fill this void, Scaling in Biology, the first general treatment of scaling in biology in over 15 years, covers a broad spectrum of the most relevant topics in a series of chapters written by experts in the field. Some of those topics discussed include allometry and fractal structure, branching of vascular systems of mammals and plants, biomechanical and life history of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates, and species-area patterns of biological diversity. Many more examples are included within this text to complete the broader picture. Scaling in Biology conveys the diversity, promise, and excitement of current research in this area, in a format accessible to a wide audience of not only specialists in the various sub-disciplines, but also students and anyone with a serious interest in biology.

Full Product Details

Author:   James H. Brown (Regents' Professor of Biology, Regents' Professor of Biology, University of New Mexico) ,  Geoffrey B. West (Senior Scientist, Senior Scientist, Los Almos National Laboratory)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 23.40cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 16.10cm
Weight:   0.499kg
ISBN:  

9780195131420

ISBN 10:   0195131428
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   13 April 2000
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Preface James H. Brown, Geoffrey B. West, and Brian J. Enquist: Scaling in Biology: Patterns and Processes, Causes and Consequences John Tyler Bonner and Henry S. Horn: Allometry and Natural Selection R. McNeill Alexander: Hovering and Jumping: Contrasting Problems in Scaling Andrew A. Biewener: Scaling of Terrestrial Support: Differing Solutionsto Mechanical Constraints of Size Mimi A. R. Koehl: Consequences of Size Change during Ontogeny and Evolution Geoffrey B. West, James H. Brown, and Brian J. Enquist: The Origin of Universal Scaling Laws in Biology John K.-J. Li: Scaling and Invariants in Cardiovascular Biology Mair Zamir: Vascular System of the Human Heart: Some Branching and Scaling Issues Wolfgang Schreiner et al.: Constrained Constructive Optimization of Arterial Tree Models Brian J. Enquist, Geoffrey B. West, and James H. Brown: Quarter-Power Allometric Scaling in Vascular Plants: Functional Basis and Ecological Consequences Henry S. Horn: Twigs, Trees, and the Dynamics of Carbon in the Landscape Richard E. Lenski and Judith A. Mongold: Cell Size, Shape, and Fitness in Evolving Populations of Bacteria Jan Kozd/lowski: Does Body Size Optimization Alter the Allometries for Production and Life History Traits? Paul H. Harvey: Why and How Phylogenetic Relationships Should Be Incorporated into Studies of Scaling Hélène Cyr: Individual Energy Use and the Allometry of Population Density William A. Calder: Diversity and Convergence: Scaling for Conservation John Harte: Scaling and Self-Similarity in Species Distributions: Implications for Extinction, Species Richness, Abundance, and Range Index

Reviews

"""I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians.""--Doody's ""I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians.""--Doody's"

I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's<br>

<br> I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's<br>

I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitativebiology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians. --Doody's

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