Physiological Diversity

Ecologists have always believed, at least to a certain extent, that physiological mechanisms serve to underpin ecological patterns. However, their importance has traditionally been at best underestimated and at worst ignored, with physiological variation being dismissed as either an irrelevance or as random noise/error. Spicer and Gaston make a convincing argument that the precise physiology does matter! In contrast to previous works which have attempted to integrate ecology and physiology, Physiological Diversity adopts a completely different and more controversial approach in tackling the physiology first before moving on to consider the implications for ecology. This is timely given the recent and considerable interest in the mechanisms underlying ecological patterns. Indeed, many of these mechanisms are physiological. This textbook provides a contemporary summary of physiological diversity as it occurs at different hierarchical levels (individual, population, species etc.), and the implications of such diversity for ecology and, by implication, evolution. It reviews what is known of physiological diversity and in doing so exposes the reader to all the key works in the field. It also portrays many of these studies in a completely new light, thereby serving as an agenda for, and impetus to, the future study of physiological variation. Physiological Diversity will be of relevance to senior undergraduates, postgraduates and professional researchers in the fields of ecology, ecological physiology, ecotoxicology, environmental biology and conservation. The book spans both terrestrial and marine systems.

Ecologists have always believed, at least to a certain extent, thatphysiological mechanisms serve to underpin ecological patterns.However, their importance has traditionally been at bestunderestimated and at worst ignored, with physiological variationbeing dismissed as either an irrelevance or as random noise/error.Spicer and Gaston make a convincing argument that the precisephysiology does matter!In contrast to previous works which have attempted to integrateecology and physiology, Physiological Diversity adopts a completelydifferent and more controversial approach in tackling thephysiology first before moving on to consider the implications forecology. This is timely given the recent and considerable interestin the mechanisms underlying ecological patterns. Indeed, many ofthese mechanisms are physiological.This textbook provides a contemporary summary of physiologicaldiversity as it occurs at different hierarchical levels(individual, population, species etc.), and the implications ofsuch diversity for ecology and, by implication, evolution. Itreviews what is known of physiological diversity and in doing soexposes the reader to all the key works in the field. It alsoportrays many of these studies in a completely new light, therebyserving as an agenda for, and impetus to, the future study ofphysiological variation.Physiological Diversity will be of relevance to seniorundergraduates, postgraduates and professional researchers in thefields of ecology, ecological physiology, ecotoxicologyenvironmental biology and conservation. The book spans bothterrestrial and marine systems.

Preface.1. Introduction.2. Growing, Developing and Ageing.3. Comparing Neighbours.4. Population Differences.5. Species Contrasts.6. Overview.References.Index