Parthenogenesis is the development of an organism from an. Since then, approximately 15 million different species of organisms have evolved. An introduction takes a fresh approach to classical topics such as population genetics and natural selection, and gives an overview of recent advances in hot areas such as sexual selection, genetic conflict, life history evolution, and phenotypic plasticity. Emlen, an awardwinning evolutionary biologist at the university of montana, has infused evolution. Overview the formation of earth prebiotic chemistry millerurey exp. Natural selection will shape lifehistories and increase the probability of reaching sexual maturity and contributing viable offspring in the face of changing environmental conditions stearns. The evolution of life histories paperback stephen c. The successful predictions of optimality models that are amply demonstrated in the book indicate the fruitfulness of this approach. Understanding the life history or the changes by organisms across the life cycle is important for understanding populationdynamics and the adaptation of species to changing conditions stearns. Consider a zygote that is about to begin its life and imagine that all opportunities are open to it.
In order to be able to find life outside our earth, we have to understand life in our own planet. Stearns, born in kapaau, hawaii, studied biology and zoology at the university of wisconsin and the university of british columbia and is now p. We explained this with a theory concerning costs of reproduction, supported by a comparison among 363 populations of species kindsvater et al. Events in between usually include birth, childhood, maturation, reproduction, and senescence, and together these comprise the life history strategy of that organism. One of the major axis of lifehistory variation is explained by the tradeoff between survival and fecundity, which defines the fastslow continuum stearns. Information theory, evolution, and the origin of life information theoi\ evolution, and the origin of life presents a timely introduction to the use of information theory and coding theory in molecular biology. Although there is some evidence of life as early as 4. Work on life histories has expanded the role of phenotypes in evolutionary theory, extending the range of predictions from genetic patterns to wholeorganism traits. This text focuses on key principles to offer an accessible treatment of the subject. All organisms follow a specific sequence in their development, beginning with gestation and ending with death, which is known as the life cycle. It discusses both the macroevolutionary framework and the microevolutionary conditions that determine how life histories evolve. Evolution and life on earth principles of biology from.
The genetical information system, because it is linear and digital, resembles the algorithmic language of computers. Since the fittest are those which provide more descendants to future generations than their competitors, and fitness is largely determined by the agedependent schedule of behavior, birth, death, and development rates, life histories are adaptations of unique importance to the analysis of. The long fossil record of life provides scientists with crucial information. The importance of such plasticity in life history evolution is at least threefold stearns and koella 1986, stearns et al. Centuries ago, patterns like these inspired naturalists to seek explanations about their origin. For indepth treatments of the evolution of life histories and life history theory see stearns 1992, rof f 1992. Population growth rate, r and the net reproductive rate of increase, r 0 are useful measures of fitness and can be calculated from life tables. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Natural selection will shape life histories and increase the probability of reaching sexual maturity and contributing viable offspring in the face of changing environmental conditions stearns. Information theory, evolution, and the origin of life.
Life history theory tries to explain how evolution designs organisms to achieve reproductive success. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A new history of life is a natural history that stands out because of its large timescale 4. Students will learn the fundamental concepts of evolutionary theory, such as natural selection, genetic drift, phylogeny, and coevolution. The evolution of life histories does this by showing that natural selection is the principal underlying force molding life history variation. Bass professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at yale university. Brian charlesworth, the evolution of life histories. One way to define the stages of the life cycle is by biological characteristics. Stearns stands as a signpost to the resolution of the debate. Buy the evolution of life histories by stearns, stephen c. Mechanisms of life history evolution hardcover thomas. Since the fittest are those which provide more descendants to future generations than their competitors, and fitness is largely determined by the agedependent schedule of behavior, birth, death, and development rates, life histories are adaptations of unique importance to the analysis of darwinian evolution. The evolution of sex and its consequences, stephen c. Evolution, second edition, is ideal for introductory undergraduate courses in evolutionary biology.
Life does this through metabolism, overtly by eating, drinking, breathing. Simultaneous hermaphrodites have both male and female sexual functions at the same time. School of american research advanced seminar series price. This book is the first comprehensive summary of lifehistory evolution, a field that holds a central position in modern ecology, evolution, and population biology.
Chapters 79 cover sex, life histories, and sexual selection in greater depth than they are dealt with in any other introductory textbook but without introducing advanced technical language and analysis. Life history theory is an analytical framework designed to study the diversity of life history strategies used by different organisms throughout the world, as well as the causes and results of the variation in their life cycles. The chemistry of life and the different processes during the formation and evolution of the earth have played a crucial role. The evolution of life histories kindle edition by stephen c. The book justifiably focuses on the evolution of life history traits. This book is the first comprehensive summary of life history evolution, a field that holds a central position in modern ecology, evolution, and population biology. The evolution of life histories fitness has several major components. The study of life history evolution is thus about understanding adaptation, the most fundamental issue in evolutionary biology. Kawecki tj, stearns sc 1993 the evolution of life histories in. It is a theory of biological evolution that seeks to explain aspects of organisms anatomy and behavior by reference to the way that their life historiesincluding. He is known for his work in life history theory and evolutionary medicine. Recent work in mammalian life his tory and its evolution focuses on the postna tal to adulthood period of the life cycle. The book offers an uptodate description of the analytical tools used in evolutionary explanation.
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. Summary evolution is an established science which illuminates and informs our understanding of many central biological issues, from animal development to animal behaviour. Current descriptions of variation in life history features among living species of mammals would provide a context for identifying the derived characteristics of human life historiesthose. For more indepth coverage we refer to stearns 1992, ro. The evolution of life histories demography of ageing one. Overall, it delivers on the promise of its title adjective, describing new findings and hypotheses connecting paleontology and geology, and offering genuine but grounded scientific. Stearns born december 12, 1946, in kapaau, hawaii and raised in hawi, hawaii is an american biologist, and the edward p. The evolution of life histories kindle edition by stearns, stephen c download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The design is a solution to an ecological problem posed by the environment and subject to constraints intrinsic to the organism. This book introduces life history evolution to postgraduate students just beginning their research in population biology, ecology, or evolutionary.
Extinctions in the history of life extinction is the ultimate fate of all biological species over 99 per cent of the species that have ever inhabited the earth are now extinct. Extraterrestrial life the origin and evolution of life on earth. This book introduces the evolution of life histories. Bass professor of ecology and evolutionary biology professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. Although life history theory has made enormous progress in explaining the diversity of life history strategies among. Three billion years of life, andr cailleux, jun 1, 1968, science, 239. The book describes in particular the ways in which variation can be analyzed and predicted. The evolution of life histories life history traits are shaped by differential fecundity and survival. Making sense of life with the technical rigor and conceptual depth that todays biology majors require. First evidence for early life the evolution of life extreme life on earth. Notes origin and evolution of life and introduction to. Work on life histories has expanded the role of phenotypes in evolutionary theory, extending the range of predictions. The evolution of life histories, stearns, stephen c.
Biology module 1 origin and evolution of life and introduction to classification diversity and evolution of life 2 notes zjustify the need for classification of organisms. Diversity and evolution of life 1 origin and evolution of life and introduction to classification biology notes the planet earth came into existence sometime between 4 and 5 billion years ago. Stearns zoological institute, university of basle, reinsprung 9, ch4051 basle, switzerland introduction tradeoffs represent the costs paid in the currency of fitness when a beneficial change in one trait is linked to a detrimental change in another. Ecology predicts life history evolution in birds mar unzeta lloret abstract. Life history and evolutionary psychology 2 life history theory and evolutionary psychology the evolution of life is the result of a process in which variant forms compete to harvest energy from the environment and convert it into replicates of those forms. It discusses major analytical tools, gives examples of their applications, and provides problems for discussion at the end of each chapter. Zimmer, an awardwinning new york times columnist, brings compelling storytelling to the book, bringing evolutionary research to life.
Chapters 69 thus give unprecedented coverage to phenotypic evolution in an introductory text. To a cultural anthropologist, a life history allows one to appreciate the major events. Stearns life history evolution, aging, cancer on vimeo. This book introduces life history evolution to postgraduate students just beginning their research in population biology, ecology, or evolutionary biology. Changes in the rate of growth and the onset of sexual matu ration puberty are two such characteris tics. Evolution is an established science which illuminates and informs our understanding of many central biological issues, from animal development to animal behaviour.
Yale university box 208106 yale university new haven, ct 065208106 usa phone. Sequential hermaphrodites develop first as one sex and later switch to another sex. Life tables are an easy to use tool to study age dependes of survival and fecundity. The book justifiably focuses on the evolution of lifehistory traits. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the evolution of life histories. It will interest all biologists wishing to understand the evolution of the life cycle and the causes. Presents information to discredit darwins theories of evolution and present a range of philosophical contradictions to contend that only the bible can adequately explain key. These flower buds are arranged in pairs and orderly rows on a banksia shrub, native to australia. A companion website contains downloadable images from the text, interactive simulations to help students explore the subject in a handson manner, and additional study questions with answers. The challenge for evolutionary biology is to explain how such diversity arises. Integrating mechanistic and evolutionary analysis of life. Work on life histories has ex panded the role of phenotypes in evolutionary theory, extending the range of predictions from genetic pat terns to whole organism. Douglas john emlen science writer carl zimmer and evolutionary biologist douglas emlen have teamed up to write a textbook intended for biology majors that will inspire students while delivering a.
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