Discovering Evolutionary Ecology

• The first accessible popular-style text covering the broad spectrum of evolutionary ecology
• Highlights the major questions, concepts and findings in this dynamic field, showing relationships between all the key topics in evolutionary ecology
• Concise and attractive writing style holds readers' interest in an enjoyable way
• Over 100 line figures and halftones illustrate the points made in the text, aiding understanding

Comprehensive reference section provides links to all the most recent literature on the subject

Why are some kinds of organism species-rich and others species-poor? How do new species arise and why do some go extinct? Why do organisms grow and behave the way they do? This book provides an introduction to evolutionary ecology, the science that brings ecology and evolution together to help understand biological diversity. In a concise, readable format, Peter Mayhew covers the entire breadth of the subject, from life histories and the evolution of sex, to speciation and macroecology. Many emerging fields are also introduced, such as metabolic ecology, the evolution of population dynamics, and the evolution of global ecology. Discovering Evolutionary Ecology highlights the connections between these different subject areas, and for the first time paints a picture of a truly integrated field. It illustrates the research tools utilized, and demonstrates how advances in one area can spur on developments elsewhere when scientists combine evolutionary and ecological knowledge. To maximize accessibility, the book assumes only a basic knowledge of biology, includes a comprehensive glossary, and contains almost no maths. Each chapter provides suggestions for further reading, and there is also an extensive reference list. Ideal as an introduction to evolutionary ecology for undergraduates, this book will also interest established researchers, providing a broad and up-to-date context for their work.

Readership: An accessible, popular-style text suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in evolutionary ecology as well as professional researchers in the fields of ecology and evolution.