Human Adaptability: An Introduction to Ecological Anthropology

This is the first text to thoroughly cover nongenetic strategies of human adaptation to a variety of ecosystems. Designed to help students understand the multiple levels at which human populations respond to their surroundings, it is the most complete discussion of environmental, physiological, behavioral, and cultural adaptive strategies available. Among the unique features that make Human Adaptability outstanding as both a textbook and a reference are a complete discussion of the development of ecological anthropology and of relevant research methods; the use of an ecosystem approach with emphasis on arctic, high altitude, arid land, grassland, and tropical rain forest environments; the most extensive bibliography on ecological anthropology published to date, with over 700 references both classic and recent; and a comprehensive glossary of technical terms.

Emilio F. Moran is James H. Rudy Professor of Anthropology; director of the Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change; and co-director of the Center for the Study of Institutions, Population, and Environmental Change at Indiana University. Professor Moran was the first anthropologist to be awarded the Robert McC Netting Award (2002) by the Cultural Ecology Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers.