How birds evolve : what science reveals about their origin, lives, and diversity / Douglas J. Futuyma.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Futuyma, Douglas J., 1942- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Birds--Evolution.

Birds.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (317 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates) : colour illustrations.

Other Title:

What science reveals about their origin, lives, and diversity

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2021]

Summary:

A marvelous journey into the world of bird evolutionHow Birds Evolve explores how evolution has shaped the distinctive characteristics and behaviors we observe in birds today. Douglas Futuyma describes how evolutionary science illuminates the wonders of birds, ranging over topics such as the meaning and origin of species, the evolutionary history of bird diversity, and the evolution of avian reproductive behaviors, plumage ornaments, and social behaviors.In this multifaceted book, Futuyma examines how birds evolved from nonavian dinosaurs and reveals what we can learn from the "family tree" of birds. He looks at the ways natural selection enables different forms of the same species to persist, and discusses how adaptation by natural selection accounts for the diverse life histories of birds and the rich variety of avian parenting styles, mating displays, and cooperative behaviors. He explains why some parts of the planet have so many more species than others, and asks what an evolutionary perspective brings to urgent questions about bird extinction and habitat destruction. Along the way, Futuyma provides an insider's perspective on how biologists practice evolutionary science, from studying the fossil record to comparing DNA sequences among and within species.A must-read for bird enthusiasts and curious naturalists, How Birds Evolve shows how evolutionary biology helps us better understand birds and their natural history, and how the study of birds has informed all aspects of evolutionary science since the time of Darwin.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1 In the Light of Evolution: Birds and Evolutionary Science

2 Parrots, Falcons, and Songbirds: The Bird Tree of Life

3 After Archaeopteryx: Highlights of Bird History

4 Finches and Blackcaps: How Bird Populations Change and Adapt

5 The Ruff and the Cuckoo: Variation within Species

6 Hoatzin and Hummingbirds: How Adaptations Evolve

7 Owls and Albatrosses: Life Cycle Events and Variations

8 Auklets’ Crests and Peacocks’ Trains: Sexual Selection in Birds

9 Anis, Swallows, and Bee-eaters: The Social Life of Birds

10 Bird Species: What Are They and How Do They Form

11 A World of Birds

12 Evolution and Extinction: The Future of Birds

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-252) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691227269

0691227268

OCLC:

1280944433