Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree: Ecology and Adaptive Radiation of Anoles / Edition 1

by Jonathan Losos, Harry W. Greene

Overview

Adaptive radiation, which results when a single ancestral species gives rise to many descendants, each adapted to a different part of the environment, is possibly the single most important source of biological diversity in the living world. One of the best-studied examples involves Caribbean Anolis lizards. With about 400 species, Anolis has played an important role in the development of ecological theory and has become a model system exemplifying the integration of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral studies to understand evolutionary diversification. This major work, written by one of the best-known investigators of Anolis, reviews and synthesizes an immense literature. Jonathan B. Losos illustrates how different scientific approaches to the questions of adaptation and diversification can be integrated and examines evolutionary and ecological questions of interest to a broad range of biologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520269842
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	02/09/2011
Series:	Organisms and Environments , #10
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jonathan B. Losos is a Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America and Curator of Herpetology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. He is a newly elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a recent recipient of the esteemed Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal. Losos is recognized for his novel and penetrating evolutionary studies of adaptive radiation in vertebrates, notably his comprehensive study of Anolis lizards in tropical America, as summarized in his recent book, Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree: Ecology and Adaptive Radiation of Anoles.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A rich compendium of information by an extraordinarily insightful biologist."—Science (Aaas)

"Lucid language and simplicity in writing [create] magic throughout the book."—Environment And Ecology

"This wonderful book will appeal to all ecologists and evolutionary biologists interested in the causes of species diversity."—Trends
In Ecology & Evolution

"A must read for new researchers in the field."—Evolution:
Intl Journal of Organic Evolution

"Succeeds on all fronts."—Bioscience

Editorial Reviews

A rich compendium of information by an extraordinarily insightful biologist.

Science (AAAS)

This wonderful book will appeal to all ecologists and evolutionary biologists interested in the causes of species diversity.

Trends In Ecology & Evolution

Lucid language and simplicity in writing [create] magic throughout the book.

Environment And Ecology - Very Poorly Written Review

Accessible, interesting, and broad in scope. . . . Indispensable.

Qtly Review Of Biology

A must read for new researchers in the field.

Evolution: Intl Journal Of Organic Evolution

A labour of love . . . . [An] extremely well-researched and written book.

Austral Ecology / Emr

Succeeds on all fronts.

Bioscience

Very well-written.

Revista - Javier A. Rodriguez-Robles

This wonderful book will appeal to all ecologists and evolutionary biologists interested in the causes of species diversity.

Trends Ícaro|Ícaro|Ícaro|In Ecology & Evolution

A must read for new researchers in the field.

Evolution: Ícaro|Ícaro|Ícaro|Intl Journal Of Organic Evolution

A must read for new researchers in the field.

Evolution: Intl Journal Of Organic Evolution

"A rich compendium of information by an extraordinarily insightful biologist."--Science (Aaas)

"Lucid language and simplicity in writing [create] magic throughout the book."--Environment And Ecology

"This wonderful book will appeal to all ecologists and evolutionary biologists interested in the causes of species diversity."--Trends In Ecology & Evolution

"A must read for new researchers in the field."--Evolution: Intl Journal of Organic Evolution

"Succeeds on all fronts."--Bioscience

From the Publisher