40 Years of Evolution
Darwin's Finches on Daphne Major Island
Peter R Grant author B Rosemary Grant author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Princeton University Press
Published:2nd May '14
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book chronicles four decades of research on Darwin's finches, revealing significant evolutionary changes and the emergence of new species traits.
In 40 Years of Evolution, renowned evolutionary biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant delve into the intricate evolutionary history of Darwin's finches. Originating nearly three million years ago, these remarkable birds have been the focus of extensive research, particularly over the last four decades. The Grants, known for their landmark studies, utilize a wealth of ecological, behavioral, and genetic data to explore the dynamics of finch populations on Daphne Major, a small island in the Galapagos archipelago.
This richly illustrated work reveals the continuous processes of natural selection that shape the finch populations. Through meticulous tracking, the authors uncover significant events that have led to evolutionary changes, highlighting the effects of environmental pressures such as drought. Their findings indicate that not only do finches compete for limited food resources, but they also exhibit notable changes in beak size and shape compared to their ancestors from forty years ago. The Grants' research underscores the importance of long-term studies, offering critical insights into the mechanisms of evolution in real-time.
One of the most striking discoveries presented in 40 Years of Evolution is the emergence of a new lineage that behaves as a distinct species, characterized by unique traits such as size and song. This book emphasizes the invaluable role of continuous observation in understanding the complexities of evolution, shedding light on the rare yet significant events that can alter the course of a species over generations.
Honorable Mention for the 2015 PROSE Award in Biological Sciences, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "For the Grants, Daphne Major has been a magic well. With their four decades of work on the island, they've made it a magnificent microcosm, a model of life on Earth."--Jonathan Weiner, New York Times "For the Grants, evolution isn't a theoretical abstraction. It's gritty and real and immediate and stunningly fast... Most of all, the book is an affirmation of the importance of long-term fieldwork as a way of capturing the true dynamism of evolution."--Joel Achenbach, Princeton Alumni Weekly "The study described here is truly exceptional. Peter and Rosemary Grant ... have devoted their careers to the study of the group of birds known as Darwin's finches on the Galapagos archipelago, one of the most isolated and inhospitable places on Earth. But the payoff is that their research furnishes some of the most compelling evidence for natural selection and the origin of species... The Grants' achievement is monumental."--Tim Birkhead, Times Higher Education "[O]ne of the most intriguing books I have ever read... Read it for yourself. You'll be glad you did!"--Allan Archer, BTO News "This volume not only provides detailed evidence of the evolution of a specific group of animals, but also offers an overall perspective on how and in what ways bird species have changed in this rather isolated locality."--Choice "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and 'best' is often a subjective term. In the case of the Grant's work on Galapagos finches, I think it is possible to argue objectively that it really is the best by some measures because of its design, sustained execution, and continual incorporation of new methods and ideas. This book contributes to the status of their research program because it makes this body of work readily accessible to a much larger audience."--David Reznick, Ecology "40 Years of Evolution offers readers numerous opportunities for inspiration at how the study of ecology, evolution, and natural history of finches on a small island reflects the forces at work in the Galapagos and throughout life."--Frederick R. Davis, Quarterly Review of Biology "This book uses hard won data ... to draw insightful conclusions about the messy, dynamic, and creative processes of evolutionary change and lineage divergence. It would make an excellent ... textbook for a college-level course in evolution because it has it all: natural selection, sexual selection, heritability, competition, character displacement, speciation, and extinction... This book is a tribute to the authors themselves."--Michael S. Webster, Evolution
- Commended for PROSE Awards: Biological & Life Sciences 2015
- Short-listed for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2014
ISBN: 9780691160467
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 964g
432 pages