Sexual Selection A Very Short Introduction

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Sexual Selection: A Very Short Introduction

Marlene Zuk,Leigh W. Simmons
Sexual Selection A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Marlene Zuk,Leigh W. Simmons
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2018-06-28
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191084409

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Sexual Selection: A Very Short Introduction by Marlene Zuk,Leigh W. Simmons Pdf

What is responsible for the differences between the sexes in so many animals, from the brilliant plumage of birds of paradise to the antlers on deer? And why are the traits that distinguish the sexes sometimes apparently detrimental to survival? Even when they look more or less alike, why do males and females sometimes behave differently? Questions like these have intrigued scientists and the public alike for many years, and new discoveries are showing us both how wildly variable the natural world is, and how some basic principles can help explain much of that variation. Like natural selection, sexual selection is a process that results from differential representation of genes in successive generations. Under sexual selection, however, the crucial characteristics that determine whether an individual reproduces depend on sexual competition, rather than survival ability. This Very Short Introduction considers the history of our understanding of sexual selection, from Darwin's key insights to the modern day. Considering the investment animals place on reproduction, variation in mating systems, sexual conflict, and the origin of sexual dimorphism, Marlene Zuk and Leigh Simmons discuss questions such as whether females can really choose between males on aesthetic grounds, and how sexual conflict is resolved in different species. They conclude with a consideration of the thorny question of how, and even if, sexual selection theory applies to humans. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Evolutionary Psychology: a Very Short Introduction

Maryanne Fisher
Evolutionary Psychology a Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Maryanne Fisher
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2020-04-26
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 0198827938

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Evolutionary Psychology: a Very Short Introduction by Maryanne Fisher Pdf

One of the most powerful frameworks for understanding human behaviour is evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary psychology takes the view that the brain, just like any other part of our body such as teeth or hands, has been shaped by the processes of natural and sexual selection. How we think,and the way we use logic or assess problems, has its roots in behaviour which enabled our ancestors to survive and reproduce successfully. Using this perspective, the divide between nature and nurture evaporates, as humans are shown to be the product of their genes and biology, as well as theirenvironment, social groups, and families.In this Very Short Introduction Maryanne Fisher show how examining the historic lives of our ancestors can provide insight into of our modern psychology, especially when we add data from modern-day hunter-gatherer societies, comparative studies on the great apes, and the fossil record. Surprisingly,alongside these traditional data sources, evolutionary psychology can also use surveys from university students, romance novels, and even patterns in online shopping behaviour. Throughout, Maryanne Fisher discusses how drawing together this diverse data allows us to understand the complexity ofhumans in a powerful mannerABOUT THE SERIES:The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to makeinteresting and challenging topics highly readable.

Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection

Ingo Schlupp
Male Choice Female Competition and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection Book PDF

Author : Ingo Schlupp
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780198818946

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Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection by Ingo Schlupp Pdf

When Charles Darwin first proposed Sexual Selection Theory, he suggested two mechanisms: competition among males and choice by females. Although their importance is long established and extremely well understood, their mirror images have remained largely underappreciated; males also choose, and females also compete. The combination of male mate choice (MMC) and female competition (FC) may be one of the most overlooked yet important and intriguing phenomena in modern sexual selection theory. This novel text reviews our current understanding of MMC and FC, highlighting the important connections between them. It places both concepts in the context of related fields such as female choice, mating systems, and sexual selection theory more broadly. A truly holistic approach is provided which takes all the relevant elements into consideration, especially the relative roles of MMC and FC, female ornamentation, their evolutionary consequences, and their genetic basis. Considering male mate choice and female competition in this way as effectively two sides of the same coin creates a powerful paradigm for a more complete understanding of sexual selection. Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection will be suitable for both graduate students and researchers interested in sexual selection from an evolutionary, psychological, and anthropological perspective. It will also appeal to a broader audience of behavioural ecologists and evolutionary psychologists.

Evolution

Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Evolution Book PDF

Author : Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 169 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Evolution
ISBN : 9780198804369

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Evolution by Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth Pdf

This text is about the central role of evolution in shaping the nature and diversity of the living world. It describes the processes of natural selection, how adaptations arise, and how new species form, as well as summarizing the evidence for evolution

Darwin: A Very Short Introduction

Jonathan Howard
Darwin A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Howard
Publisher : Oxford Paperbacks
Page : 145 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2001-02-22
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9780192854544

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Darwin: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Howard Pdf

Arguments still rage about the implications of the evolutionary theory, and scepticism about Darwin's contribution to knowledge is widespread. This accessible study reasserts the importance of Darwin's work for the development of modern biology.

Evolution: A Very Short Introduction

Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Evolution A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 176 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2003-06-26
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191577666

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Evolution: A Very Short Introduction by Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth Pdf

Less than 450 years ago, all European scholars believed that the earth was the centre of a universe that was at most a few million miles in extent, and that the planets, sun, and stars all rotated around this centre. Less than 250 years ago, they believed that the universe was created essentially in its present state about 6000 years ago. Less than 150 years ago, the special creation by God of living species was still dominant. The relentless application of the scientific method of inference from experiment and observation, without reference to religious, or governmental authority has completely transformed our view of our origins and relation to the universe, in less than 500 years. Few would dispute that this programme has been spectacularly successful, particularly in the twentieth century. This book is about the crucial role of evolutionary biology in transforming our view of human origins and relation to the universe, and the impact of this idea on traditional philosophy and religion. The purpose of this book is to introduce the general reader to some of the most important basic findings, concepts, and procedures of evolutionary biology, as it has developed since the first publications of Darwin and Wallace on the subject, over 140 years ago. Evolution provides a unifying set of principals for the whole of biology; it also illuminates the relation of human beings to the universe and each other. In addition, many aspects of evolution have practical importance; for instance, the rapid evolution of resistance by bacteria to antibiotics and of HIV to antiviral drugs are pressing medical problems. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Evolution of Insect Mating Systems

David M. Shuker,Leigh W. Simmons
The Evolution of Insect Mating Systems Book PDF

Author : David M. Shuker,Leigh W. Simmons
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 355 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 2014
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780199678020

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The Evolution of Insect Mating Systems by David M. Shuker,Leigh W. Simmons Pdf

Updated version of: The evolution of insect mating systems / Randy Thornhill and John Alcock. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1983. (Preface).

Animal Behaviour: A Very Short Introduction

Tristram D. Wyatt
Animal Behaviour A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Tristram D. Wyatt
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2017-02-10
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191020957

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Animal Behaviour: A Very Short Introduction by Tristram D. Wyatt Pdf

How animals behave is crucial to their survival and reproduction. The application of new molecular tools such as DNA fingerprinting and genomics is causing a revolution in the study of animal behaviour, while developments in computing and image analysis allow us to investigate behaviour in ways never previously possible. By combining these with the traditional methods of observation and experiments, we are now learning more about animal behaviour than ever before. In this Very Short Introduction Tristram D. Wyatt discusses how animal behaviour has evolved, how behaviours develop in each individual (considering the interplay of genes, epigenetics, and experience), how we can understand animal societies, and how we can explain collective behaviour such as swirling flocks of starlings. Using lab and field studies from across the whole animal kingdom, he looks at mammals, butterflies, honeybees, fish, and birds, analysing what drives behaviour, and exploring instinct, learning, and culture. Looking more widely at behavioural ecology, he also considers some aspects of human behaviour. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Viruses

Dorothy H. Crawford
Viruses Book PDF

Author : Dorothy H. Crawford
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2018
Category : Medical virology
ISBN : 9780198811718

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Viruses by Dorothy H. Crawford Pdf

Viruses are big news. From pandemics such as HIV, swine flu, and SARS, we are constantly being bombarded with information about new lethal infections. In this Very Short Introduction, Dorothy Crawford demonstrates from their discovery and the unravelling of their intricate structures, how clever these entities really are.

The Evolution of Sex Determination

Leo Beukeboom,Nicolas Perrin
The Evolution of Sex Determination Book PDF

Author : Leo Beukeboom,Nicolas Perrin
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2014-06-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191631399

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The Evolution of Sex Determination by Leo Beukeboom,Nicolas Perrin Pdf

Sexual reproduction is a fundamental aspect of life. It is defined by the occurrence of meiosis and the fusion of two gametes of different sexes or mating types. Sex-determination mechanisms are responsible for the sexual fate and development of sexual characteristics in an organism, be it a unicellular alga, a plant, or an animal. In many cases, sex determination is genetic: males and females have different alleles or different genes that specify their sexual morphology. In animals, this is often accompanied by chromosomal differences. In other cases, sex may be determined by environmental (e.g. temperature) or social variables (e.g. the size of an organism relative to other members of its population). Surprisingly, sex-determination mechanisms are not evolutionarily conserved but are bewilderingly diverse and appear to have had rapid turnover rates during evolution. Evolutionary biologists continue to seek a solution to this conundrum. What drives the surprising dynamics of such a fundamental process that always leads to the same outcome: two sex types, male and female? The answer is complex but the ongoing genomic revolution has already greatly increased our knowledge of sex-determination systems and sex chromosomes in recent years. This novel book presents and synthesizes our current understanding, and clearly shows that sex-determination evolution will remain a dynamic field of future research. The Evolution of Sex Determination is an advanced, research level text suitable for graduate students and researchers in genetics, developmental biology, and evolution.

Intelligence

Ian J. Deary
Intelligence Book PDF

Author : Ian J. Deary
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 185 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 2020
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780198796206

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Intelligence by Ian J. Deary Pdf

Some people appear to be smarter than others, but how do we measure intelligence? Why do some people have better thinking powers than others? What does intelligence predict about people's health and social outcomes? This "Very Short Introduction" uses the best, large-scale psychological data to answer important questions about intelligence, such as how environment, genes, brain structure, gender, and age affect people's thinking skills. It asks whether intelligence increased over the 20th century. Ian Deary also considers the new field of cognitive epidemiology, which discovers links between higher intelligence and better health, lower rates of illness, and longer life. -- From publisher's description.

Urban Evolutionary Biology

Marta Szulkin,Jason Munshi-South,Anne Charmantier
Urban Evolutionary Biology Book PDF

Author : Marta Szulkin,Jason Munshi-South,Anne Charmantier
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 318 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2020-03-05
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780198836841

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Urban Evolutionary Biology by Marta Szulkin,Jason Munshi-South,Anne Charmantier Pdf

Urban Evolutionary Biology fills an important knowledge gap on wild organismal evolution in the urban environment, whilst offering a novel exploration of the fast-growing new field of evolutionary research. The growing rate of urbanization and the maturation of urban study systems worldwide means interest in the urban environment as an agent of evolutionary change is rapidly increasing. We are presently witnessing the emergence of a new field of research in evolutionary biology. Despite its rapid global expansion, the urban environment has until now been a largely neglected study site among evolutionary biologists. With its conspicuously altered ecological dynamics, it stands in stark contrast to the natural environments traditionally used as cornerstones for evolutionary ecology research. Urbanization can offer a great range of new opportunities to test for rapid evolutionary processes as a consequence of human activity, both because of replicate contexts for hypothesis testing, but also because cities are characterized by an array of easily quantifiable environmental axes of variation and thus testable agents of selection. Thanks to a wide possible breadth of inference (in terms of taxa) that may be studied, and a great variety of analytical methods, urban evolution has the potential to stand at a fascinating multi-disciplinary crossroad, enriching the field of evolutionary biology with emergent yet incredibly potent new research themes where the urban habitat is key. Urban Evolutionary Biology is an advanced textbook suitable for graduate level students as well as professional researchers studying the genetics, evolutionary biology, and ecology of urban environments. It is also highly relevant to urban ecologists and urban wildlife practitioners.

Evolution: A Very Short Introduction

Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Evolution A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2017-06-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780192526526

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Evolution: A Very Short Introduction by Brian Charlesworth,Deborah Charlesworth Pdf

Less than 450 years ago, all European scholars believed that the Earth was at the centre of a Universe that was at most a few million miles in extent, and that the planets, sun, and stars all rotated around this centre. Less than 250 years ago, they believed that the Universe was created essentially in its present state about 6000 years ago. Even less than 150 years ago, the view that living species were the result of special creation by God was still dominant. The recognition by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace of the mechanism of evolution by natural selection has completely transformed our understanding of the living world, including our own origins. In this Very Short Introduction Brian and Deborah Charlesworth provide a clear and concise summary of the process of evolution by natural selection, and how natural selection gives rise to adaptations and eventually, over many generations, to new species. They introduce the central concepts of the field of evolutionary biology, as they have developed since Darwin and Wallace on the subject, over 140 years ago, and discuss some of the remaining questions regarding processes. They highlight the wide range of evidence for evolution, and the importance of an evolutionary understanding for instance in combating the rapid evolution of resistance by bacteria to antibiotics and of HIV to antiviral drugs. This reissue includes some key updates to the main text and a completely updated Further Reading section. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Brain: A Very Short Introduction

Michael O'Shea
The Brain A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Michael O'Shea
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 149 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2005-12-08
Category : Medical
ISBN : 9780191578359

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The Brain: A Very Short Introduction by Michael O'Shea Pdf

How does the brain work? How different is a human brain from other creatures' brains? Is the human brain still evolving? In this fascinating book, Michael O'Shea provides a non-technical introduction to the main issues and findings in current brain research, and gives a sense of how neuroscience addresses questions about the relationship between the brain and the mind. Chapters tackle subjects such as brain processes, perception, memory, motor control and the causes of 'altered mental states'. A final section discusses possible future developments in neuroscience, touching on artificial intelligence, gene therapy, the importance of the Human Genome Project, drugs by design, and transplants. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Adolescence: A Very Short Introduction

Peter K Smith
Adolescence A Very Short Introduction Book PDF

Author : Peter K Smith
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 144 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2016-05-19
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9780191643477

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Adolescence: A Very Short Introduction by Peter K Smith Pdf

Adolescence is a turbulent period to live through, and a time of importance and concern to parents, teachers, and social workers. Marking the transition from the world of childhood to adult life, the adolescent faces many challenges and opportunities, including forming their own identity, relating to often conflicting demands from parents and peers, and negotiating first romantic relationships. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter K. Smith provides an engaging and informative overview of what we know and what we are learning about adolescence. Including both a guide to the classical research that has informed our knowledge, as well as the results of the modern research into the contemporary adolescent experience, Smith examines a number of aspects of adolescence, including the cultural and historical context, the biological changes to the adolescent brain, and the controversies that adolescence brings. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.