Biological Distance Analysis


Book Description

Biological Distance Analysis: Forensic and Bioarchaeological Perspectives synthesizes research within the realm of biological distance analysis, highlighting current work within the field and discussing future directions. The book is divided into three main sections. The first section clearly outlines datasets and methods within biological distance analysis, beginning with a brief history of the field and how it has progressed to its current state. The second section focuses on approaches using the individual within a forensic context, including ancestry estimation and case studies. The final section concentrates on population-based bioarchaeological approaches, providing key techniques and examples from archaeological samples. The volume also includes an appendix with additional resources available to those interested in biological distance analyses. - Defines datasets and how they are used within biodistance analysis - Applies methodology to individual and population studies - Bridges the sub-fields of forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology - Highlights current research and future directions of biological distance analysis - Identifies statistical programs and datasets for use in biodistance analysis - Contains cases studies and thorough index for those interested in biological distance analyses




Encyclopedia of Environmental Change


Book Description

Accessibly written by a team of international authors, the Encyclopedia of Environmental Change provides a gateway to the complex facts, concepts, techniques, methodology and philosophy of environmental change. This three-volume set illustrates and examines topics within this dynamic and rapidly changing interdisciplinary field. The encyclopedia includes all of the following aspects of environmental change: Diverse evidence of environmental change, including climate change and changes on land and in the oceans Underlying natural and anthropogenic causes and mechanisms Wide-ranging local, regional and global impacts from the polar regions to the tropics Responses of geo-ecosystems and human-environmental systems in the face of past, present and future environmental change Approaches, methodologies and techniques used for reconstructing, dating, monitoring, modelling, projecting and predicting change Social, economic and political dimensions of environmental issues, environmental conservation and management and environmental policy Over 4,000 entries explore the following key themes and more: Conservation Demographic change Environmental management Environmental policy Environmental security Food security Glaciation Green Revolution Human impact on environment Industrialization Landuse change Military impacts on environment Mining and mining impacts Nuclear energy Pollution Renewable resources Solar energy Sustainability Tourism Trade Water resources Water security Wildlife conservation The comprehensive coverage of terminology includes layers of entries ranging from one-line definitions to short essays, making this an invaluable companion for any student of physical geography, environmental geography or environmental sciences.




Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging


Book Description

The handbook centers on detection techniques in the field of particle physics, medical imaging and related subjects. It is structured into three parts. The first one is dealing with basic ideas of particle detectors, followed by applications of these devices in high energy physics and other fields. In the last part the large field of medical imaging using similar detection techniques is described. The different chapters of the book are written by world experts in their field. Clear instructions on the detection techniques and principles in terms of relevant operation parameters for scientists and graduate students are given.Detailed tables and diagrams will make this a very useful handbook for the application of these techniques in many different fields like physics, medicine, biology and other areas of natural science.




Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments


Book Description

Numerical and statistical methods have rapidly become part of a palaeolimnologist’s tool-kit. They are used to explore and summarise complex data, reconstruct past environmental variables from fossil assemblages, and test competing hypotheses about the causes of observed changes in lake biota through history. This book brings together a wide array of numerical and statistical techniques currently available for use in palaeolimnology and other branches of palaeoecology. ​ Visit http://extras.springer.com the Springer's Extras website to view data-sets, figures, software, and R scripts used or mentioned in this book.




Tracking Environmental Change Using Lake Sediments


Book Description

Numerical and statistical methods have rapidly become part of a palaeolimnologist’s tool-kit. They are used to explore and summarise complex data, reconstruct past environmental variables from fossil assemblages, and test competing hypotheses about the causes of observed changes in lake biota through history. This book brings together a wide array of numerical and statistical techniques currently available for use in palaeolimnology and other branches of palaeoecology. ​ Visit http://extras.springer.com the Springer's Extras website to view data-sets, figures, software, and R scripts used or mentioned in this book.




Modeling Evolution


Book Description

Computer modeling is now an integral part of research in evolutionary biology. This book outlines how evolutionary questions are formulated and how, in practice, they can be resolved by analytical and numerical methods.




Experimental Evolution


Book Description

Experimental approaches to evolution provide indisputable evidence of evolution by directly observing the process at work. Experimental evolution deliberately duplicates evolutionary processes—forcing life histories to evolve, producing adaptations to stressful environmental conditions, and generating lineage splitting to create incipient species. This unique volume summarizes studies in experimental evolution, outlining current techniques and applications, and presenting the field’s full range of research—from selection in the laboratory to the manipulation of populations in the wild. It provides work on such key biological problems as the evolution of Darwinian fitness, sexual reproduction, life history, athletic performance, and learning.




Genotype-by-Environment Interactions and Sexual Selection


Book Description

Sexual selection is recognized as being responsible for some of the most extravagant morphologies and behaviors in the natural world, as well as a driver of some of the most rapid evolution. While Charles Darwin’s theory is now a fundamental component of modern evolutionary biology, the impact of genotype-by-environment interactions on sexual selection has thus far received little attention. This book represents the first comprehensive analysis of the role genotype-by-environment interactions play in sexual selection and the potential implications that they have for the evolutionary process. The Editors have identified 13 topics that currently define the field and shed light on the impacts of these interactions on sexual selection. This includes key topics, such as resolving the lek paradox and how genotype-by-environmental interactions can compromise the honesty of sexual signals. The volume also outlines key questions that remain unanswered and provides a comprehensive guide to analyzing genotype-by-environment interactions. The mix of theory, empirical studies, and practical instructions from world leading experts make this book a particularly potent and definitive guide on the topic. It will be of interest to evolutionary biologists, spanning from genomicists to behaviorists. “This is a very timely book, covering a topic that should change the way we think about sexual selection. The contributors are all leaders and the topics should provide guidance to many PhD projects in the years to come. GEI is increasingly shown to be important, and it seems likely that it is critical in species where sexual selection is operating. This book is likely to help revitalize the study of sexual selection.” Professor Allen Moore, The University of Georgia “GEIs fascinate evolutionary biologists, but the unique consequences for sexually selected traits have been neglected - until now. This multi-authored book comprehensively explains key theoretical concepts, handles practical ‘how to’ issues and uses classic case studies to illustrate the value of studying GEIs. It is a must read for everyone interested in sexual selection.” Professor Michael Jennions, The Australian National University