Great Adaptations

Catalog description

Tiny hummingbirds and huge whales commute thousands of miles every year, male bower birds construct elaborately decorated structures to impress females, and some parasites program suicidal behavior into their hosts. These amazing (and sometimes bizarre) behaviors are all adaptations--traits that have been favored by selection because they enhance the ability of individuals to survive and reproduce successfully. The study of adaptation helps us to understand how evolution generates complexity and to understand the processes that underlie the rich diversity of life. Covers the principles of natural selection and a diverse and remarkable range of adaptations in nature.