Vertebrate Life (8th Edition) - Hardcover

Pough, F. Harvey; Janis, Christine M.; Heiser, John B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0321545761 ISBN 13: 9780321545763

Publisher: Pearson, 2008

Synopsis

Widely praised for its comprehensive coverage and exceptionally clear writing style, this best-selling book explores how the anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior of animals interact to produce organisms that function effectively in their environments and how lineages of organisms change through evolutionary time.  The Eighth Edition  features dozens of new figures and photos, updated information from molecular data and evolutionary development, and expanded discussions on global climate change, extinction, and conservation. The Diversity, Classification, and Evolution of Vertebrates, Vertebrate Relationships and Basic Structure, Early Vertebrates: Jawless Vertebrates and the Origin of Jawed Vertebrates, Living in Water, Radiation of the Chondrichthyes, Dominating Life in Water: The Major Radiation of Fishes, Geography and Ecology of the Paleozoic, Living on Land, Origin and Radiation of Tetrapods, Salamanders, Anurans, and Caecilians, Synapsids and Sauropods: Two Approaches to Terrestrial Life, Turtles, The Lepidosaurs: Tuatara, Lizards, and Snakes, Ectothermy: A Low-Cost Approach to Life, Geography and Ecology of the Mesozoic, Mesozoic Diapsids: Dinosaurs, Crocodilians, and Birds, Avian Specializations, The Synapsida the the Evolution of Mammals, Geography and Ecology of the Cenozoic, Mammalian Characteristics and Diversity, Mammalian Specializations, Endothermy: A High-Energy Approach to Life, Body Size, Ecology, and Sociality of Mammals, Primate Evolution and the Emergence of Humans, The Impact of Humans on Other Species of Vertebrates. Intended for those interested in learning the basics of vertebrate life.

About this title

From the Publisher:

This best-selling text has been widely praised for its comprehensive coverage and clear writing style. Vertebrate Life is the only textbook that integrates the ecology, behavior, morphology and physiology of vertebrates in a phylogenetic context. It focuses on how animals work and the consequences--in ecological and evolutionary time-- of working one way versus another. The Fourth Edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect changes in the discipline.

From the Back Cover:

Widely praised for its comprehensive coverage and exceptionally clear writing style, this best-selling exploration of vertebrate life is the only accurate and up-to-date treatment of vertebrates that employs a phylogenetic perspective and focuses on how vertebrates work, integrating ecology, behavior, anatomy, and physiology in an evolutionary context. A new chapter on conservation draws together information about the basic biology of vertebrates and shows how it is essential for biological and regulatory decisions that affect the survival of species. Discussions of anatomy, physiology, and behavior are placed in an evolutionary context, showing readers how animals work and how they got to be the way they are. Contains information about conservation and endangered species status—related to the basic biology of the groups stresses the importance of good biological information for management and legislation. Features a Cladistic perspective which reflects the widespread adoption of phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) as the basis for determining the evolutionary relationships of organisms. Includes emphasis on conservation—Includes the application of basic biological information about organisms in programs of captive husbandry and management of threatened and endangered species. For professionals in the fields of Vertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Biology Function, as well as Paleontology and Herpetology.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0321545761
• ISBN 13: 9780321545763
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 752