This is a scholarly volume that approaches a challenging subject in a straightforward and rigorous manner, which is illuminating without being overpowering...ideal for students who want both depth and a fascinating context.

Ian Carter, The Biologist

This volume provides for all. ... This is a great volume for undergraduates or postdoctoral researchers.

Christian Laurent, Quarterly Review of Biology

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.
Les mer
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.
Les mer
1. Themes ; 2. Selection ; 3. Constraint ; 4. Scaling ; 5. Phylogeny ; 6. Form and function in flight ; 7. Adaptation in avian wing design ; 8. Trade-offs: selection, phylogeny and constraint

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198566380
Publisert
2014
Utgiver
Oxford University Press
Vekt
266 gr
Høyde
233 mm
Bredde
155 mm
Dybde
11 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
176

Biografisk notat

Graham Taylor is Associate Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, with a particular focus on the dynamics and control of flight, and a strong interest in evolutionary theory and animal behaviour. Adrian Thomas is Professor of Biomechanics at the University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, and works on Biomechanics and Evolution, with a particular focus on animal flight and aerodynamics. He does aerodynamics consultancy work with drone and paraglider manufacturers and flies the wings he helps design.