Adaptationist evo-devo / Mark E. Olson

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olson, Mark (Mark E.), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Adaptation (Biology).

Evolution (Biology)--Philosophy.

Evolution (Biology).

Natural selection--Philosophy.

Natural selection.

Evolutionary developmental biology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Summary:

'Adaptionist Evo-Devo' explores one of biology's central questions: how to explain the diversity of life by linking natural selection to the developmental processes that make evolution possible

"Adaptationist Evo-Devo explores one of biology’s central questions: how to explain the diversity of life by linking natural selection to the developmental processes that make evolution possible. The book guides readers through the structure of evolutionary explanations, showing why different subfields—population biology, comparative biology, physiology, optimality modeling, developmental analysis—each contribute something essential. It argues that collaboration across these approaches is not just desirable but required for building robust explanations of organismal form. Rather than staking out theoretical turf, the book traces areas of deep complementarity and common purpose. It helps readers navigate slippery concepts like “constraint,” “plasticity,” and “evolvability,” and highlights how better explanations emerge from combining the strengths of different research traditions. Compelling examples, from scaling laws and radish flowers to goldfish and centipedes, illustrate how assumptions can be turned into testable ideas. The book provides a guide for students and professionals alike to cut through jargon, clarify reasoning, and work more productively across disciplinary lines. Adaptationist Evo-Devo does not call for a revolution, but it quietly reshapes how we think about explanation in evolutionary biology. It offers a shared language and toolkit for those ready to move beyond false dichotomies and toward an integrated, evidence-driven understanding of how evolution shapes form"-- Oxford Academic

Contents:

Introduction : why you want to be an evo-devo adaptationist

Standard adaptation

Developmental potential and adaptation

Evolution and developmental systems

Understanding phenotypic plasticity and its role in evolution

Building adaptationist evo-devo explanations of organismal form

Conclusion : working together to build better explanations of organismal form

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Oxford Academic, viewed June 24, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Olson, Mark (Mark E.) Adaptationist evo-devo

ISBN:

9780197831533

0197831532

9780197831519

0197831516

9780197831526

0197831524

OCLC:

1584660620

Publisher Number:

CIPO000376675

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license