Evolutionary Ecology of Birds by Bennett

Evolutionary Ecology of Birds by Bennett

Birds show bewildering diversity in their life histories, mating systems and risk of extinction. Why do albatrosses delay reproduction for the first 12 years of their life while zebra finches breed in their first year? Why are fairy-wrens so sexually promiscuous while swans show lifelong monogamy? Why are over a quarter of parrot species threatened with global extinction while woodpeckers and cuckoos remain secure? Some of these topics are classic problems in natural and sexual selection, while others have arisen in the last decade, such as variation in genetic mating systems or extinction risk. Birds offer a unique opportunity for investigating these questions because they are exceptionally well-studied in the wild. By employing phylogenetic comparative methods and a database of up to 3,000 species, the authors identify the ecological and evolutionary basis of many of these intriguing questions. They also highlight remaining puzzles and identify a series of challenges for future investigation. This is the most comprehensive reappraisal of avian diversity since David Lack's classic Ecological Adaptions for Breeding in Birds. It is also the most extensive application of modern comparative methods yet undertaken. This novel approach demonstrates how an evolutionary perspective can reveal the general ecological processes that underpin contemporary avian diversity on a global scale.

This book is a very good introduction to the field, laced with lots of attractive research ideas* African Zoology *
I strongly recommend Evolutionary Ecology of Birds to anyone who is interested in a comparative approach to evolutionary ecology. This book, like Lack's, is an exemplar for how to systematically form and test hypotheses using comparative data. As happened after the publiscation of Lack's book, I anticipate a rash of studies that revisit or expand upon the authors' results. * Tom Langen in Ecology (2002) *
The tradition embodies by Lack is enhanced here by the insights that new approaches can generate. * David Westneat in Trends in Ecology and Evolution *
... it provides a useful overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the comparative method, and it certainly stimulates thinking about how we can learn more about variation in avian life histories and mating systems. * Nature *
The authors have written a wonderfully stimulating book which, like Lack's original, is a landmark in bird biology and should be read by all ornithologists. * Tim Birkhead in IBIS *
I think that David Lack would applaud the contributions that Bennett & Owens have made. * Stephen Pruett-Jones in Science *

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780198510895
ISBN 10	0198510896
Title	Evolutionary Ecology of Birds
Author	Bennett
Series	Oxford Series In Ecology And Evolution
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2002-01-24
Number of pages	296
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.