Human Adaptability: An Introduction to Ecological Anthropology / Edition 3

by Emilio F. Moran

Overview

Designed to help students understand the multiple levels at which human populations respond to their surroundings, this essential text offers the most complete discussion of environmental, physiological, behavioral, and cultural adaptive strategies available. Among the unique features that make Human Adaptability outstanding as both a textbook for students and a reference book for professionals are a complete discussion of the development of ecological anthropology and relevant research methods; the use of an ecosystem approach with emphasis on arctic, high altitude, arid land, grassland, tropical rain forest, and urban environments; an extensive and updated bibliography on ecological anthropology; and a comprehensive glossary of technical terms.

Entirely new to the third edition are chapters on urban sustainability and methods of spatial analysis, with enhanced emphasis throughout on the role of gender in human-adaptability research and on global environmental change as it affects particular ecosystems. In addition, new sections in each chapter guide students to websites that provide access to relevant material, complement the text's coverage of biomes, and suggest ways to become active in environmental issues.

About the Author:
Emilio F. Moran is Distinguished Professor and James H. Rudy Professor of anthropology, professor of environmental sciences and adjunct professor of geography, Director of the Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change, and Codirector of the Center for the Study of Institutions, Populations, and Environmental Change at Indiana University

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813343679
Publisher:	Westview Press
Publication date:	12/25/2007
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Emilio F. Moran is John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University.

Table of Contents

	List of Illustrations	xi
	Preface to the Second Edition	xv
	List of Acronyms	xxv
Part 1	Ecological Anthropology: History, Theory, and Method
1	People in Ecosystems	3
	Human Adaptability as a Response to Constraints	5
	Modeling	10
	Energy	13
	Matter	16
	Information	19
	Ecosystems and Global Change	20
	Summary	22
	Recommended Readings	23
	Notes	25
2	Theories of Human-Habitat Interaction up to the 1950s	27
	Environmental Determinism	28
	Human Adaptation to Environment	32
	Nature as Limiting Factor: Malthus and Possibilism	38
	Summary	43
	Recommended Readings	44
	Notes	45
3	From Cultural Ecology to Environmental Anthropology	47
	Steward's Cultural Ecology	47
	Applications of the Cultural Ecological Method	50
	The Approach of Ecological Anthropology	58
	The Ethnoecological Approach	63
	Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change	64
	Historical Ecology	68
	Political Ecology	69
	Summary	70
	Recommended Readings	72
	Notes	73
4	Fundamental Concepts and Methods	75
	The Challenge of Scale and Levels of Analysis	75
	Ecosystemic Relationships	78
	Soils and Plant Productivity	86
	Physiological Responses	91
	Social/Cultural Regulatory Adjustments	99
	Information and Decisions: Toward Actor-Based Approaches	102
	Summary	106
	Recommended Readings	108
	Notes	110
Part 2	Studies of Human Adaptability
5	Human Adaptability to Arctic Zones	113
	The Arctic Ecosystem	114
	Adaptation to Cold Stress	119
	Coping with Snow and Sea Ice	126
	Adaptation to Prolonged Light and Darkness	128
	Coping with Low Biological Productivity	132
	Impacts of Global Change in the Arctic	137
	Summary	143
	Recommended Readings	145
	Notes	147
6	Human Adaptability to High Altitudes	149
	Mountain Ecosystems	150
	Adaptation to Hypoxia	155
	Adaptability to Cold Stress in the Andes	165
	Aridity and Low Productivity	169
	Climate Change and High-Altitude Ecosystems	175
	Summary	176
	Recommended Readings	177
	Notes	179
7	Human Adaptability to Arid Lands	181
	Desert Ecosystems	182
	Adjustments to Dry Heat	187
	Utilization of Resources	192
	Irrigation	200
	Change in Desert Ecosystems	212
	Summary	214
	Recommended Readings	216
8	Human Adaptability to Grasslands	219
	Grasslands Ecosystems	221
	Herd Management	229
	Relations with Cultivators	242
	Adaptive Strategies in the Northern Plains	243
	Global Change and the Future of Grasslands and Pastoralism	251
	Summary	252
	Recommended Readings	255
9	Human Adaptability to the Humid Tropics	259
	Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems	261
	Coping with Ecosystem Complexity	269
	Adaptability to Humid Heat	292
	Global Change Processes and Alternatives to Deforestation	293
	Summary	300
	Recommended Readings	301
	Notes	303
Part 3	New Directions
10	New Directions in Environmental Anthropology	307
	Human Adaptability to Global Environmental Change	307
	The Use of Remote Sensing in Anthropology	309
	Urban Ecology	321
	Experimental Approaches in Environmental Anthropology	325
	Common Property Resources and the Study of Institutions	328
	Political Economy and Human Adaptability	330
	Notes	332
	Epilogue	333
	Glossary	339
	Bibliography	357
	Index	431

Editorial Reviews

Details nongenetic strategies of human adaptation to a variety of ecosystems, discussing environmental, physiological, behavioral, and cultural adaptive strategies. Offers a complete discussion of the development of ecological anthropology and relevant research methods, and uses an ecosystem approach with emphasis on arctic, high altitude, and rainforest environments. The bibliography lists 1,100 classic and recent references. This second edition addresses the impact of political economy and the uses of remote sensing in the study of human ecology. Moran teaches anthropology at Indiana University, where he directs the Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Moran draws on his extensive knowledge of several disciplines and his wide-ranging field experience to offer a clear, and accessible account of human interactions with natural ecosystems. He provides an understanding of human adaptability that will be of interest to students, to professionals, and to the broad reading public that is concerned with human adaptation to global environmental change."

Benjamin Orlove, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California at Davis

"Rich in information … Eminently suitable as a text for courses in human ecology from either the biological or anthropological viewpoint."

BioScience

"Solid scholarship … a well-written book that should be read by anyone with interests in this diverse field, students and professionals alike."

Annals of Human Biology

"One of the clearest statements to date of the systems approach in ecological anthropology … Superb."

Reviews in Anthropology

From the Publisher