Overview
This book introduces life history evolution to postgraduate students just beginning their research in population biology, ecology, or evolutionary biology. It discusses major analytical tools, gives examples of their applications, and provides problems for discussion at the end of each chapter. It will interest all biologists wishing to understand the evolution of the life cycle and the causes of phenotypic variation in fitness, and it contains the seeds of applications of life history theory to population dynamics, behaviour, and community ecology. Care is taken in Part I to build up the tools needed for a well-rounded evolutionary explanation: demography, quantitative genetics, reaction norms, trade offs and phylogenetic/comparative analysis. Part II discusses the evolution of major life history traits. This is a comprehensive, up-to-date text in a field that holds a central position in modern ecology and evolution.
Full Product Details
Author: Stephen C. Stearns (Professor of Zoology,, Professor of Zoology,, Yale University, USA)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 18.90cm
, Height: 1.80cm
, Length: 24.70cm
Weight: 0.500kg
ISBN: 9780198577416
ISBN 10: 0198577419
Pages: 262
Publication Date: 28 May 1992
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
One of the most beneficial actions an adviser could take for a new graduate student in evolutionary biology would be to put Stearns book in her or his hands and say, Read this. Science
One of the most beneficial actions an adviser could take for a new graduate student in evolutionary biology would be to put Stearns book in her or his hands and say, Read this. * Science *
`Although aimed at advanced students, this work will be read much more widely, because the basics of life-history theory pervade all pure and applied branches of ecology, ethology, and evolution. Stearns sets us on the right track for understanding interactions between traits'. `The text flows well from start to finish because of clear summaries in, and connections between, the chapters. This is especially true of the first section on the fundamentals, which contains a lucid discussion of concepts such as natural selection, adaptation, and fitness.' `... an excellent read. Nature `One of the most beneficial actions an adviser could take for a new graduate student in evolutionary biology would be to put Stearns' book in her or his hands and say, Read this. ' Science 'The Evolution of Life Histories by Stephen C. Stearns stands as a signpost to the resolution of the debate. The book justifiably focuses on the evolution of life-history traits. The successful predictions of optimality models that are amply demonstrated in the book indicate the fruitfulness of this approach. One of the most beneficial actions an adviser could take for a new graduate student in evolutionary biology would be to put Stearns' book in her or his hands and say, Read this .' Samuel M. Scheiner, Northern Illinois University, Science, Vol. 258, December 1992 'This is a comprehensive, up-to-date text in a field that holds a central position in modern ecology and evolution.' Ethology Ecology & Evolution 5: 1993
