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Species Concepts in Biology
by Frank E. ZachosFrank E. Zachos offers a comprehensive review of one of today's most important and contentious issues in biology: the species problem. After setting the stage with key background information on the topic, the book provides a brief history of species concepts from antiquity to the Modern Synthesis, followed by a discussion of the ontological status of species with a focus on the individuality thesis and potential means of reconciling it with other philosophical approaches. More than 30 different species concepts found in the literature are presented in an annotated list, and the most important ones, including the Biological, Genetic, Evolutionary and different versions of the Phylogenetic Species Concept, are discussed in more detail. Specific questions addressed include the problem of asexual and prokaryotic species, intraspecific categories like subspecies and Evolutionarily Significant Units, and a potential solution to the species problem based on a hierarchical approach that distinguishes between ontological and operational species concepts. A full chapter is dedicated to the challenge of delimiting species by means of a discrete taxonomy in a continuous world of inherently fuzzy boundaries. Further, the book outlines the practical ramifications for ecology and evolutionary biology of how we define the species category, highlighting the danger of an apples and oranges problem if what we subsume under the same name ("species") is in actuality a variety of different entities. A succinct summary chapter, glossary and annotated list of references round out the coverage, making the book essential reading for all biologists looking for an accessible introduction to the historical, philosophical and practical dimensions of the species problem.
Species Conservation in Managed Habitats: The Myth of a Pristine Nature
by Werner KunzWritten by an author with longstanding experience in the ecology of insects and birds and with a stellar academic record in molecular life sciences, this is a welcome challenge to the widely held beliefs in conventional environmental policies. Werner Kunz convincingly explains why maintaining high biodiversity in Europe depends heavily on the existence of open space and sparse ground vegetation that is neither used for intensive modern agriculture, nor eliminated by reforestation. He questions the commonly propagated opinion that nature conservation is equivalent to species protection - and shows that technical habitat design can rescue endangered species. A must-have for environmental agencies, policy makers, ecologists and all who are witnessing the current loss of species in Central Europe.
Species Diagnostics Protocols
by Justin P. ClappIn Species Diagnostics Protocols leading practitioners describe in full detail numerous methods for identifying many organisms by means of nucleic acid analysis. The applications range from medical diagnosis and plant pathology to medical entomology, mycology, and molecular ecology. The organisms identified include plant, insect, and vertebrate DNA; viruses (phytopathogenic, HIV, human papilloma, dengue); bacteria; fungi; protozoans; parasites; and mosquitoes. The detailed techniques can easily be modified for use with many other and novel species. Species Diagnostics Protocols is the only book available dealing solely with the identification of species using molecular techniques. Its detailed, step-by-step instructions and extensive notes on pitfalls ensure success even for those with little prior experience.
Species Diversity and Community Structure: Novel Patterns and Processes in Plants, Insects, and Fungi
by Teiji Sota Yoshino Ando Takashi Osono Hideki Kagata Shunsuke UtsumiThis book introduces recent progress in the study of species diversity and community structures in terrestrial organisms conducted by three groups at Kyoto University. First, it explains species diversity and the functioning of fungi in Asian regions as outlined by metagenomic approaches using next-generation sequencing technology. The advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies accelerate the speed of species inventorying, especially for microorganisms. Second, the study of complex interactions between herbivorous insects and plants in the community and ecosystem contexts is presented. Recent studies in community and ecosystem genetics shed light on these complex interactions with novel approaches incorporating genetic perspectives including genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in plant defenses against herbivores. Finally, recent studies on speciation processes in insects are described, processes that are related to the evolution of particular life history strategies. Included is an examination of two hypotheses that may be important in understanding diversification of insect species in heterogeneous environments in space and time. This book is a valuable resource especially for ecologists who are interested in species diversity and community structure.
Species Diversity of Animals in Japan
by Masaharu Motokawa Hiroshi KajiharaThis book summarizes the status quo of the knowledge about the biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine animals that live in Japan. Consisting of some 6,800 islands that are arrayed for approximately 3,500 km from north to south, the Japanese archipelago has a complex history in a paleogeographic formation process over time and harbors rich flora and fauna. This work will contribute to establishing a general biogeographic theory in archipelagoes around continental shelves. Facing the ongoing extinction crisis, one of the most important tasks for our generation is to bequeath this precious natural heritage to future generations. As the first step toward this goal, a species list has been compiled through solid, steady alpha-taxonomic work in each taxon. Furthermore, the phylogeography and population genetic structure for each species is elucidated for deeper understanding of the local fauna, the scientific results of which should be the basis for establishing conservation policies and strategies. Also the problem of alien or introduced species is investigated as another threat to the native fauna. Each of the 27 chapters is written by the most active specialist leading the field, thus readers can acquire up-to-date knowledge of the animal species diversity and their formation process of Japanese animals in the most comprehensive form available. This book is recommended for researchers and students who are interested in species diversity, biogeography, and phylogeography.
Species Problems and Beyond: Contemporary Issues in Philosophy and Practice (Species and Systematics)
by John S. Wilkins, Frank E. Zachos, and Igor Ya. PavlinovSpecies Problems and Beyond offers a collection of up-to-date essays discussing from an interdisciplinary perspective the many ramifications of the ‘Species Problem.’ The authors represent experts in the philosophy of biology, in species-level evolutionary investigations, and in biodiversity studies and conservation. Some of the topics addressed concern the context sensitivity of the term ‘species’; species as individuals, processes, natural kinds, or as ‘operative concepts’; species delimitation in the age of Big (genomic) Data; and taxonomic inflation and its consequences for conservation strategies. The carefully edited volume will be an invaluable resource for philosophers of biology and evolutionary biologists alike. – Olivier Rieppel, Rowe Family Curator of Evolutionary Biology, Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum, USASpecies, or ‘the Species Problem’, is a topic in science, in the philosophy of science, and in general philosophy. In fact, it encompasses many aspects of the same problem, and these are dealt with in this volume. Species are often thought of as fundamental units of biological matter to be used in ecology, conservation, classification, and biodiversity. The chapters in this book present opposing views on the current philosophical and conceptual issues of the Species Problem in biology.Divided into four sections, Concepts and Theories, Practice and Methods, Ranks and Trees and Names, and Metaphysics and Epistemologies, the book is authored by biologists, philosophers, and historians, many leaders in their fields. Topics include ontology of species, definitions of both species category and units, species rank, speciation issues, nomenclature, ecology, and species conservation.Species Problems and Beyond aims to clarify the contemporary issues of the Species Problem. It is ideal for use in upper-level seminars and courses in Evolutionary Biology, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Biology, Systematics and Taxonomy, and Phylogenetics/Cladistics, and for any scholar in these fields.
Species Sensitivity Distributions in Ecotoxicology
by Glenn W. Suter II Leo Posthuma Theo P. TraasIn spite of the growing importance of Species Sensitivity Distribution models (SSDs) in ecological risk assessments, the conceptual basis, strengths, and weaknesses of using them have not been comprehensively reviewed. This book fills that need. Written by a panel of international experts, Species Sensitivity Distributions in Ecotoxicology reviews
Species Tree Inference: A Guide to Methods and Applications
by Stephen A. Smith Kyle A. Gallivan Luay Nakhleh Tandy Warnow Stacey D. Smith Paul D. Blischak Jeremy M. Brown Zhen Cao Alison Cloutier Kerry Cobb Alexandria A. DiGiacomo Deren A. Eaton Scott V. Edwards Daniel J. Gates Phil Grayson Xinhao Liu Patrick F. McKenzie Siavash Mirarab Erin Molloy Genevieve G. Mount Jamie R. Oaks Huw A. Ogilvie James B. Pease Diana Pilson Timothy B. Sackton Claudia Solís-Lemus David L. Swofford Coleen E. Thompson Emiko M. Waight Joseph F. Walker Ellen I. Weinheimer James C. Wilgenbusch Andrea D. Wolfe Zhi YanAn up-to-date reference book on phylogenetic methods and applications for evolutionary biologistsThe increasingly widespread availability of genomic data is transforming how biologists estimate evolutionary relationships among organisms and broadening the range of questions that researchers can test in a phylogenetic framework. Species Tree Inference brings together many of today’s leading scholars in the field to provide an incisive guide to the latest practices for analyzing multilocus sequence data.This wide-ranging and authoritative book gives detailed explanations of emerging new approaches and assesses their strengths and challenges, offering an invaluable context for gauging which procedure to apply given the types of genomic data and processes that contribute to differences in the patterns of inheritance across loci. It demonstrates how to apply these approaches using empirical studies that span a range of taxa, timeframes of diversification, and processes that cause the evolutionary history of genes across genomes to differ.By fully embracing this genomic heterogeneity, Species Tree Inference illustrates how to address questions beyond the goal of estimating phylogenetic relationships of organisms, enabling students and researchers to pursue their own research in statistically sophisticated ways while charting new directions of scientific discovery.
Species and Speciation in the Fossil Record
by Margaret M. Yacobucci Warren D. Allmon and Margaret M. YacobucciAlthough the species is one of the fundamental units of biological classification, there is remarkably little consensus among biologists about what defines a species, even within distinct sub-disciplines. The literature of paleobiology, in particular, is littered with qualifiers and cautions about applying the term to the fossil record or equating such species with those recognized among living organisms. In Species and Speciation in the Fossil Record, experts in the field examine how they conceive of species of fossil animals and consider the implications these different approaches have for thinking about species in the context of macroevolution. After outlining views of the Modern Synthesis of evolutionary disciplines and detailing the development within paleobiology of quantitative methods for documenting and analyzing variation within fossil assemblages, contributors explore the challenges of recognizing and defining species from fossil specimens—and offer potential solutions. Addressing both the tempo and mode of speciation over time, they show how with careful interpretation and a clear species concept, fossil species may be sufficiently robust for meaningful paleobiological analyses. Indeed, they demonstrate that the species concept, if more refined, could unearth a wealth of information about the interplay between species origins and extinctions, between local and global climate change, and greatly deepen our understanding of the evolution of life.
Species, Science and Society: The Role of Systematic Biology (Routledge Studies in Conservation and the Environment)
by Quentin WheelerThis book presents an engaging and accessible examination of the role of systematic biology in species exploration and biodiversity conservation. Our planet and systematic biology are at a crossroads. Millions of species face an imminent threat of extinction, and, with knowledge of only a fraction of earth’s species we are unprepared to respond. Species, Science and Society explains what is at stake if we continue to ignore the traditional mission of systematics. Rejecting claims that it is too late to document earth’s species, that molecular evidence is sufficient and that comparative morphology and the grand traditions of systematics are outdated, this book makes a compelling argument for a taxonomic renaissance. The book challenges readers to rethink assumptions about systematics. Shattering myths and misconceptions and clarifying the role of systematics in confronting mass extinction, it hopes to inspire a new generation of systematists. Readers are given a deeply personal view of the mission, motivations and rewards of systematic biology. Written in narrative style with passion, wit and optimism, it is the first book to question the growing dominance of molecular data, defend descriptive taxonomy and propose a mission to discover, describe and classify all species. Our evolutionary heritage, the fate of society and the future of the planet depend on what we do next. This book will be of great interest to academics, researchers and professionals working in systematics, taxonomy and biodiversity conservation, as well as students with a basic background in biology.
Species, Science and Society: The Role of Systematic Biology (Routledge Studies in Conservation and the Environment)
by Quentin Wheeler- presents an engaging and accessible examination of the role of systematic biology in species exploration and biodiversity conservation - clarifies misconceptions about systematic biology, reimagining it for the 21st Century - proposes an ambitious, planetary-scale project to inventory and make known every kind of plant, animal, and microbe on Earth - challenges the next and present generations of taxonomists to allow molecular data to assume it’s proper place alongside traditional data, to reembrace the fundamentally important mission of systematics - will be of great interest to those researching and working in systematics in botany and zoology, as well as professionals working in taxonomy and biodiversity conservation.
Species: A History of the Idea
by John S. WilkinsThe complex idea of "species" has evolved over time, yet its meaning is far from resolved. This lucidly written, comprehensive work takes a fresh look at an idea central to the field of biology by tracing its history from antiquity to today.
Species: The Evolution of the Idea, Second Edition (Species and Systematics)
by John S. WilkinsOver time the complex idea of "species" has evolved, yet its meaning is far from resolved. This comprehensive work is a fresh look at an idea central to the field of biology by tracing its history from antiquity to today. Species is a benchmark exploration and clarification of a concept fundamental to the past, present, and future of the natural sciences. In this edition, a section is added on the debate over species since the time of the New Synthesis, and brings the book up to date. A section on recent philosophical debates over species has also been added. This edition is better suited non-specialists in philosophy, so that it will be of greater use for scientists wishing to understand how the notion came to be that living organisms form species. Key Selling Features: Covers the philosophical and historical development of the concept of "species" Documents that variation was recognized by pre-Darwinian scholars Includes a section on the debates since the time of the New Synthesis Better suited to non-philosophers
Speciesism in Biology and Culture: How Human Exceptionalism is Pushing Planetary Boundaries
by Brent D. Mishler Brian SwartzThis open access book explores a wide-ranging discussion about the sociopolitical, cultural, and scientific ramifications of speciesism and world views that derive from it. In this light, it integrates subjects across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The 21st-century western world is anthropocentric to an extreme; we adopt unreasonably self-centered and self-serving ideas and lifestyles. Americans consume more energy resources per person than most other nations on Earth and have little concept of how human ecology and population biology interface with global sustainability. We draw upon religion, popular culture, politics, and technology to justify our views and actions, yet remain self-centered because our considerations rarely extend beyond our immediate interests. Stepping upward on the hierarchy from “racism,” “speciesism” likewise refers to the view that unique natural kinds (species) exist and are an important structural element of biodiversity. This ideology manifests in the cultural idea that humans are distinct from and intrinsically superior to other forms of life. It further carries a plurality of implications for how we perceive ourselves in relation to nature, how we view Judeo-Christian religions and their tenets, how we respond to scientific data about social problems such as climate change, and how willing we are to change our actions in the face of evidence.
Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Element-Organic Compounds
by Alexei K. BaevThis book extends the development of the thermodynamic theory of specific intermolecular interactions to element-organic and specific organometallic compounds. The fundamentals of an unconventional approach to the theory of H-bonding and specific interactions are formulated, based on a concept of pentacoordinate carbon atoms. Prof. Baev has introduced the theory already in his successful books "Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Organic Compounds" and "Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Nitrogenated and Bioorganic Compounds". In this book he also demonstrates it for element organic and specific organometallic compounds, a class of substances which is of great importance in synthetic chemistry and catalysis. Furthermore, organic compound classes, that have not been treated in the previous books, are included. New types of hydrogen bonds and specific interactions are substantiated and their energies are determined on the basis of the developed methodology. In this way, the influence of the molecular structure on the energy and on intermolecular interactions can be discussed for these particular compound classes.
Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Nitrogenated and Bioorganic Compounds
by Alexei K. BaevAfter his first book on the topic "Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Organic Compounds", Baev extends in this book the development of the thermodynamic theory of specific intermolecular interactions to a wider spectrum of nitrogenated and bioorganic compounds: amino alcohols, amino acids, peptides and urea derivatives. The fundamentals of an unconventional approach to the theory of H-bonding and specific interactions are formulated based on a concept of penta- coordinated carbon atoms. New types of hydrogen bonds and specific interactions are substantiated and on the basis of the developed methodology their energies are determined. The new concept of the extra stabilizing effect of isomeric methyl groups on the structure and stability of nitrogenated organic molecules and bioorganic compounds is introduced and the destabilization action on specific interactions is outlined.
Specific Intermolecular Interactions of Organic Compounds
by Alexei K. BaevProf. Baev presents in his book the development of the thermodynamic theory of specific intermolecular interactions for a wide spectrum of organic compounds: ethers, ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and hydrocarbons. The fundamentals of an unconventional approach to the theory of H-bonding and specific interactions are formulated based on a concept of pentacoordinate carbon atoms. New types of hydrogen bonds and specific interactions are substantiated and on the basis of the developed methodology their energies are determined. The system of interconnected quantitative characteristics of the stability of specific intermolecular interactions is presented. The laws of their transformations are discussed and summarized. The new concept of the extra stabilizing effect of isomeric methyl groups on the structure and stability of organic molecules is introduced and the destabilization action on specific interactions is outlined.
Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Materials
by PJ GoodhewDetails the essential practical steps which must precede microscopy. Methods for preparing sheet or disc specimens and final thinning techniques are described with reference to practical problems. The book also covers methods for mounting specimens in the
Specimen Science: Ethics and Policy Implications (Basic Bioethics)
by Holly Lynch Barbara Bierer I. Cohen Suzanne RiveraLegal, regulatory, and ethical perspectives on balancing social benefit and human autonomy in research using human biospecimens.Advances in medicine often depend on the effective collection, storage, research use, and sharing of human biological specimens and associated data. But what about the sources of such specimens? When a blood specimen is drawn from a vein in your arm, is that specimen still you? Is it your property, intellectual or otherwise? Should you be allowed not only to consent to its use in research but also to specify under what circumstances it may be used? These and other questions are at the center of a vigorous debate over the use of human biospecimens in research. In this book, experts offer legal, regulatory, and ethical perspectives on balancing social benefit and human autonomy in biospecimen research.After discussing the background to current debates as well as several influential cases, including that of Henrietta Lacks, the contributors consider the rights, obligations, risks, and privacy of the specimen source; different types of informed consent under consideration (broad, blanket, and specific); implications for special patient and researcher communities; and the governance of biospecimen repositories and the responsibilities of investigators.ContributorsRebecca A. Anderson, Heide Aungs, Avery Avrakotos, Mark Barnes, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Benjamin Berkman, Barbara E. Bierer, Mark A. Borreliz, Jeffrey R. Botkin, Dan Brock, Ellen Wright Clayton, I. Glenn Cohen, Lisa Eckstein, Barbara J. Evans, Emily Chi Fogler, Nanibaa' A. Garrison, Pamela Gavin, Aaron J. Goldenberg, Christine Grady, Kate Gallin Heffernan, Marylana Saadeh Helou, Sara Chandros Hull, Elisa A. Hurley, Steven Joffe, Erin P. Johnson, Julie Kaneshiro, Aaron S. Kesselheim, Isaac Kohane, David Korn, Russell Korobkin, Bernard Lo, Geoffrey Lomax, Kimberly Hensle Lowrance, Holly Fernandez Lynch, Bradley A. Malin, Karen J. Maschke, Eric M. Meslin, P. Pearl O'Rourke, Quinn T. Ostrom, David Peloquin, Rebecca Pentz, Jane Perlmutter, Ivor Pritchard, Suzanne M. Rivera, Erin Rothwell, Andrew P. Rusczek, Rachel E. Sachs, Carol Weil, David Wendler, Benjamin Wilfond, Susan M. Wolf
Speckle Imaging Using Aperture Modulation (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Abdallah HamedThis book covers speckle image formation using a variety of modulated apertures. The central theme revolves around theoretical analyses, specifically the calculation of impulse responses or Point Spread Functions (PSFs) corresponding to these apertures. These calculations provide crucial insights into the resolution inherent in the resulting speckle images. The book begins with an examination of the recognition of the direction of new apertures from elongated speckle images, setting the stage for subsequent discussions. The theoretical analyses extend to diverse aperture designs, including Gaussian, graded-index, and modulated apertures. The book delves into the nuanced dynamics of contrast in speckle images, exploring the Voigt distribution and the effects of modulation on contrast. In addition to aperture-centric discussions, the book addresses the processing of the formed speckle images. The chapters impart a comprehensive understanding of speckle imaging, encompassing discrimination in microscopy using digital speckle images, the utilization of concentric hexagonal pupils, and the exploration of irregular apertures. The book culminates in a detailed exploration of speckle imaging in the context of an annular Hermite Gaussian laser beam. Overall, this book serves as a valuable resource for researchers and academics seeking a profound exploration of speckle image formation, modulation, and processing across a spectrum of apertures and theoretical frameworks.
Spectacles of Waste
by Warwick AndersonThe modern bathroom is an ingenious compilation of locked doors, smooth porcelain, 4-ply tissue and antibacterial hand soap, but despite this miracle of indoor plumbing, we still can’t bear the thought that anyone else should know that our bodies produce waste. Why must we live by the rules of this intense scatological embarrassment? In Spectacles of Waste, leading historian of medicine Warwick Anderson reveals how human excrement has always complicated humanity’s attempts to become modern. From wastewater epidemiology and sewage snooping to fecal transplants and excremental art, he argues that our insistence on separating ourselves from our bodily waste has fundamentally shaped our philosophies, social theories, literature and art—even the emergence of high-tech science as we understand it today. Written with verve and aplomb, Anderson’s expert analysis reveals how in recent years, humanity has doubled down on abstracting and datafying our most abject waste, and unconsciously underlined its biopolitical signature across our lives.
Spectacular Chemical Experiments
by George A. Olah Herbert W. RoeskyWritten by the author of the award-winning "Chemische Kabinettstucke" this book demonstrates over 80 enjoyable, impressive and sometimes almost unbelievable chemical experiments for classroom, lecture hall or home. Every experiment is explained in full, and has been tested several times such that the successful reproduction is guaranteed. Grouped into several cycles -- water, the color blue, the color red, soles, and self-organization -- the topics are perfect for experimental lectures or school projects. Detailed illustrations and the lively writing style make this book attractive to every reader interested in chemistry who will be spellbound and educated at the same time.
Spectacular Science for Smart Kids: Clever Experiments and STEM Activities for Hours of Screen-Free Fun at Home
by Amy OylerSpectacular Science for Smart Kids contains fun science experiments for hands-on learning at home, written by Amy Oyler, featuring illustrations from Amanda Brack...
Spectacular Spots
by Susan StockdaleYou&’ll be amazed to discover all the different reasons why animals have spots! What kinds of animals have spots and why do they have them? With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author-illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces readers to a range of spotted animals, familiar and exotic, and some of the benefits of their patterns. In addition to providing beauty and inspiration, spots can help a creature masquerade as a different, more threatening species, provide camouflage for hunting or hiding, or scare off predators. From the ladybug to the blue poison dart frog, the green anaconda to the white-tailed deer fawn, these spectacularly spotted creatures will delight and fascinate budding naturalists. This entrancing companion to Stripes of All Types (130,000 copies sold in a variety of formats) features energetic rhyming text and beautifully detailed paintings that pop off the page. An afterword tells a little bit more about each animal and where it lives, and readers can test their knowledge of animal spots with a fun matching game at the end.
Spectacular Women in Space (Women's Hall of Fame Series)
by Sonia GueldenpfennigSpace is the final frontier, and these ten women have established their place in it. This collection of ten biographies features women who have made an important contribution to the exploration of space. Included are Jerrie Cobb, who could only dream of flying above the atmosphere; some of the first women in space, Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride; and members of the current generation of women astronauts such as Julie Payette and Ellen Ochoa. This book shows the particular challenges faced by women in their quest to discover more about our universe.