Insect Development and Evolution - Hardcover

Heming, Bruce S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801439337 ISBN 13: 9780801439339

Publisher: Comstock Publishing Associates, 2003

Synopsis

Life scientists are increasingly drawn to the study of comparative evolutionary biology. Insect Development and Evolution is the first synthesis of knowledge of insect development within an evolutionary framework and the first to survey the genetic, molecular, and whole organism literature. Bruce S. Heming provides a detailed introduction to the embryonic and postembryonic development of insects. Topics include:

* reproductive systems,
* male and female gametogenesis,
* sperm transfer and use,
* fertilization,
* sex determination,
* parthenogenesis,
* embryogenesis,
* postembryogenesis,
* hormones,
* and the role of ontogeny in insect evolution.

Summaries for each of these topics cover structural events; comparative aspects (inserted on a phylogeny of the insect orders); and hormonal, genetic, and molecular causal analyses.

Insect Development and Evolution treats examples throughout the hexapods with frequent reference to the evolution and development of other invertebrates. It also compares insects to vertebrates and places insect development into context with fossil evidence and earth history. Heming's book will become an essential tool for students and teachers of entomology. It will also interest insect systematists and paleontologists, insect behavioral ecologists, insect pathologists, applied entomologists, developmental and invertebrate biologists, and all scientists who use Drosophila as a model organism.

About this title

About the Author:

Bruce S. Heming is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.

Review:

"We wholeheartedly congratulate Bruce Heming for this excellent book, by far the best comprehensive survey of insect development biology available to date."

(Alessandro Minelli Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research)

"Heming (Univ. of Alberta) has prepared an exceptional book using a comparative phylogenetic approach that synthesizes classical works of ontogney and development with modern molecular studies using Drosophila and Manduca as models.... For research scientists in entomology and developmental biology it will also serve as an excellent reference, the utility of which is enhanced by an extensive reference list and index. Highly recommended."

(Choice)

"Through their application to model organisms, development genetics and molecular biology have fueled an explosive growth in our understanding of insect ontogeny. Heming draws on these recent findings and a synthesis of earlier descriptive, comparative, and experimental studies to produce a detailed introduction to insect development within an evolutionary framework."

(Science)

"This book provides a wealth of information on insect development with chapters on empryogenesis, evolution of larval forms, wing formation and pattern differentiation in butterflies, polymorphism in eusocial insects.... The final chapter is devoted to ontogeny and hexapod evolution and provides an excellent summary account of the evolution of the various orders of insects that we know today. This is a worthy successor to The Biology of Drosophila, my treasured bible for many years."

(John Badmin British Journal of Entomology and Natural History)

"A fine reference that focuses on recent discoveries regarding Drosophila and Manduca development. Written for students and scientists working in the field of insect structure, evolution, paleontology, pathology, function, behavior, and systematics, as well as those investigating other organisms. This study can be used as a one or two semester course in insect development. Causal analysis is thoroughly covered in the text, which could lead to an experimental component for students and researchers."

(Northeastern Naturalist)

About this edition

• Publisher: Comstock Publishing Associates
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0801439337
• ISBN 13: 9780801439339
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 464