The study of human reproductive ecology represents an important
new development in human evolutionary biology. Its focus is on the
physiology of human reproduction and evidence of adaptation, and
hence the action of natural selection, in that domain. But at the
same time the study of human reproductive ecology provides an
important perspective on the historical process of human evolution,
a lens through which we may view the forces that have shaped us as
a species. In the end, all actions of natural selection can be
reduced to variation in the reproductive success of
individuals.
Peter Ellison is one of the pioneers in the fast growing area of
reproductive ecology. He has collected for this volume the research
of thirty-one of the most active and influential scientists in the
field. Thanks to recent noninvasive techniques, these contributors
can present direct empirical data on the effect of a broad array of
ecological, behavioral, and constitutional variables on the
reproductive processes of humans as well as wild primates. Because
biological evolution is cumulative, however, organisms in the
present must be viewed as products of the selective forces of past
environments. The study of adaptation thus often involves
inferences about formative ecological relationships that may no
longer exist, or not in the same form. Making such inferences
depends on carefully weighing a broad range of evidence drawn from
studies of contemporary ecological variation, comparative studies
of related taxonomies, and paleontological and genetic evidence of
evolutionary history. The result of this inquiry sheds light not
only on the functional aspects of an organism's contemporary
biology but also on its evolutionary history and the selective
forces that have shaped it through time.
Encompassing a range of viewpoints--controversy along with
consensus--this far-ranging collection offers an indispensable
guide for courses in biological anthropology, human biology, and
primatology, along with demography, medicine, social anthropology,
and public health.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
