Comparative developmental physiology is a growing discipline examining a diversity of organisms as they transform from single cells to mature, reproductive individuals. This collection of original, innovative essays emerged from a Roundtable on Comparative Developmental Physiology held in Glen Rose, Texas in the summer of 2002. This meeting brought together investigators studying the physiology of developing animals in an effort to identify the field's potential contributions to biology. The participants honed in on common emerging themes and future goals, which are reflected in the chapters within. The nascent community of comparative developmental physiologists was challenged to amplify the power of data collection and tool development by focusing on a few select model organisms, while still employing the power of the broader, more traditional comparative approach. Evolution has provided comparative developmental physiologists with remarkable biological diversity, which they have used to investigate a broad range of questions critical for understanding how life works. This goes beyond the basic nuts and bolts of cellular mechanisms to the functional whole, from the mechanistic level to behavior within and between organisms. The union of developmental biology with the breadth of comparative physiology holds much promise for a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes.

Comparative developmental physiology is a growing discipline examining a diversity of organisms as they transform from single cells to mature, reproductive individuals. This collection of original, innovative essays emerged from a Roundtable on Comparative Developmental Physiology held in Glen Rose, Texas in the summer of 2002. This meeting brought together investigators studying the physiology of developing animals in an effort to identify the field''s potential contributions to biology. The participants honed in on common emerging themes and future goals, which are reflected in the chapters within. The nascent community of comparative developmental physiologists was challenged to amplify the power of data collection and tool development by focusing on a few select model organisms, while still employing the power of the broader, more traditional comparative approach. Evolution has provided comparative developmental physiologists with remarkable biological diversity, which they have used to investigate a broad range of questions critical for understanding how life works. This goes beyond the basic nuts and bolts of cellular mechanisms to the functional whole, from the mechanistic level to behavior within and between organisms. The union of developmental biology with the breadth of comparative physiology holds much promise for a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes.

Through its emphasis on recent research, its many summary tables, and its bibliography of more than 4,000 entries, this first modern, synthetic treatment of comparative amphibian environmental physiology emerges as the definitive reference for the field. Forty internationally respected experts review the primary data, examine current research trends, and identify productive avenues for future research.

First published in 1981, this book presents an original approach to an area of great importance in comparative zoology and physiology and evolutionary biology: the evolution of air breathing in vertebrates from aquatic ancestors. The subject is approached from a functional as well as an anatomical viewpoint, utilising knowledge of the physiology of extant animals to trace probable evolutionary steps. Opening with a brief summary of current views of vertebrate evolution, the authors then go on to deal with problems of oxygen transfer in water and air and the structure and function of gills and lungs. Carbon dioxide transfer in water-breathing forms is seen as being tightly coupled to an ion and acid-base regulation. The evolution of air breathing is seen as a several-stage process, beginning with the evolution of accessory air-breathing structures for oxygen uptake.

Interest in land crabs has burgeoned as biologists have increasingly focused on the evolution of terrestriality. Before the publication of this volume in 1988, there had been no single comprehensive source of information to serve biologists interested in the diverse aspects of terrestrial decapod crustacean. Biology of the Land Crabs was the first synthesis of recent and long-established findings on brachyuran and anomuran crustaceans that have evolved varying degrees of adaptation for life on land. Chapters by leading researchers take a coordinated evolutionary and comparative approach to systematics and evolution, ecology, behaviour, reproduction, growth and molting, ion and water balance, respiration and circulation, and energetics and locomotion. Each discusses how terrestrial species have become adapted from ancestral freshwater or marine forms. With its extensive bibliography and comprehensive index, including the natural history of nearly eighty species of brachyuran and anomuran crabs, Biology of the Land Crabs will continue to be an invaluable reference for researchers and advanced students.

The past fifty years have witnessed major achievements in ecological physiology, the study of physiological adaptations that improve survival or permit organisms to exploit extreme environments. New Directions in Ecological Physiology, first published in 1988, outlines conceptual approaches to the study of physiological adaptation in animals, approaches that will stimulate the continued growth of this field. Twenty leading ecological physiologists and evolutionary biologists have contributed critical evaluations of developments in their respective areas, highlighting major conceptual advances as well as research questions yet to be answered. The volume is organized into three parts: The first deals with comparisons of different species and populations; the second, with comparisons of individuals within a population; the last, with interacting physiological systems within individual animals. New Directions in Ecological Physiology, by encouraging critical debate about general issues and directions of growth in this field, is intended to foster the invigoration of ecological physiology in particular and of organismal biology in general.

Comparative developmental physiology is a growing discipline examining a diversity of organisms as they transform from single cells to mature, reproductive individuals. This collection of original, innovative essays emerged from a Roundtable on Comparative Developmental Physiology held in Glen Rose, Texas in the summer of 2002. This meeting brought together investigators studying the physiology of developing animals in an effort to identify the field's potential contributions to biology. The participants honed in on common emerging themes and future goals, which are reflected in the chapters within. The nascent community of comparative developmental physiologists was challenged to amplify the power of data collection and tool development by focusing on a few select model organisms, while still employing the power of the broader, more traditional comparative approach. Evolution has provided comparative developmental physiologists with remarkable biological diversity, which they have used to investigate a broad range of questions critical for understanding how life works. This goes beyond the basic nuts and bolts of cellular mechanisms to the functional whole, from the mechanistic level to behavior within and between organisms. The union of developmental biology with the breadth of comparative physiology holds much promise for a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes.

Comparative developmental physiology is a growing discipline examining a diversity of organisms as they transform from single cells to mature, reproductive individuals. This collection of original, innovative essays emerged from a Roundtable on Comparative Developmental Physiology held in Glen Rose, Texas in the summer of 2002. This meeting brought together investigators studying the physiology of developing animals in an effort to identify the field''s potential contributions to biology. The participants honed in on common emerging themes and future goals, which are reflected in the chapters within. The nascent community of comparative developmental physiologists was challenged to amplify the power of data collection and tool development by focusing on a few select model organisms, while still employing the power of the broader, more traditional comparative approach. Evolution has provided comparative developmental physiologists with remarkable biological diversity, which they have used to investigate a broad range of questions critical for understanding how life works. This goes beyond the basic nuts and bolts of cellular mechanisms to the functional whole, from the mechanistic level to behavior within and between organisms. The union of developmental biology with the breadth of comparative physiology holds much promise for a deeper understanding of evolutionary processes.

Through its emphasis on recent research, its many summary tables, and its bibliography of more than 4,000 entries, this first modern, synthetic treatment of comparative amphibian environmental physiology emerges as the definitive reference for the field. Forty internationally respected experts review the primary data, examine current research trends, and identify productive avenues for future research.

First published in 1981, this book presents an original approach to an area of great importance in comparative zoology and physiology and evolutionary biology: the evolution of air breathing in vertebrates from aquatic ancestors. The subject is approached from a functional as well as an anatomical viewpoint, utilising knowledge of the physiology of extant animals to trace probable evolutionary steps. Opening with a brief summary of current views of vertebrate evolution, the authors then go on to deal with problems of oxygen transfer in water and air and the structure and function of gills and lungs. Carbon dioxide transfer in water-breathing forms is seen as being tightly coupled to an ion and acid-base regulation. The evolution of air breathing is seen as a several-stage process, beginning with the evolution of accessory air-breathing structures for oxygen uptake.

Interest in land crabs has burgeoned as biologists have increasingly focused on the evolution of terrestriality. Before the publication of this volume in 1988, there had been no single comprehensive source of information to serve biologists interested in the diverse aspects of terrestrial decapod crustacean. Biology of the Land Crabs was the first synthesis of recent and long-established findings on brachyuran and anomuran crustaceans that have evolved varying degrees of adaptation for life on land. Chapters by leading researchers take a coordinated evolutionary and comparative approach to systematics and evolution, ecology, behaviour, reproduction, growth and molting, ion and water balance, respiration and circulation, and energetics and locomotion. Each discusses how terrestrial species have become adapted from ancestral freshwater or marine forms. With its extensive bibliography and comprehensive index, including the natural history of nearly eighty species of brachyuran and anomuran crabs, Biology of the Land Crabs will continue to be an invaluable reference for researchers and advanced students.

The past fifty years have witnessed major achievements in ecological physiology, the study of physiological adaptations that improve survival or permit organisms to exploit extreme environments. New Directions in Ecological Physiology, first published in 1988, outlines conceptual approaches to the study of physiological adaptation in animals, approaches that will stimulate the continued growth of this field. Twenty leading ecological physiologists and evolutionary biologists have contributed critical evaluations of developments in their respective areas, highlighting major conceptual advances as well as research questions yet to be answered. The volume is organized into three parts: The first deals with comparisons of different species and populations; the second, with comparisons of individuals within a population; the last, with interacting physiological systems within individual animals. New Directions in Ecological Physiology, by encouraging critical debate about general issues and directions of growth in this field, is intended to foster the invigoration of ecological physiology in particular and of organismal biology in general.