| Evolutionary Biomechanics Contributor(s): Taylor, Graham (Author), Thomas, Adrian (Author) |
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ISBN: 0198566379 ISBN-13: 9780198566373 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA OUR PRICE: $128.25 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: March 2014 Annotation: Recent research in biomechanics is increasingly revealing a set of special cases where universal physical laws constrain the trajectories and, more controversially, even the endpoints of the evolutionary process. For the first time this book brings together a broad range of examples from the latest research in evolutionary biomechanics to examine this phenomenon. Each chapter follows a similar theme, dealing first with the underlying physics and then examining the biological responses to selection. Examples of convergent evolution are used to analyze the nature of the trajectories of adaptation during the progressive approach towards a physically defined optimum. This advanced textbook is suitable for graduate level students as well as professional researchers in the fields of biomechanics, physiology, evolutionary biology and palaeontology. It will also be of relevance and use to researchers in the physical sciences and engineering. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Science | Life Sciences - Evolution - Science | Life Sciences - Ecology - Science | Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology |
| Dewey: 576.8 |
| LCCN: 2013945536 |
| Series: Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution |
| Physical Information: 0.56" H x 6.32" W x 9.25" (0.82 lbs) 172 pages |
| Themes: - Topical - Ecology |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Evolutionary biomechanics is the study of evolution through the analysis of biomechanical systems. Its unique advantage is the precision with which physical constraints and performance can be predicted from first principles. Instead of reviewing the entire breadth of the biomechanical literature, a few key examples are explored in depth as vehicles for discussing fundamental concepts, analytical techniques, and evolutionary theory. Each chapter develops a conceptual theme, developing the underlying theory and techniques required for analyses in evolutionary biomechanics. Examples from terrestrial biomechanics, metabolic scaling, and bird flight are used to analyse how physics constrains the design space that natural selection is free to explore, and how adaptive evolution finds solutions to the trade-offs between multiple complex conflicting performance objectives. Evolutionary Biomechanics is suitable for graduate level students and professional researchers in the fields of biomechanics, physiology, evolutionary biology and palaeontology. It will also be of relevance and use to researchers in the physical sciences and engineering. |