Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy

John Avise

John Avise

Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy

Columbia University Press | 2013

https://doi.org/10.7312/avis16060

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Contents

About this book

Covering both the internal and external incubation of offspring, this book provides a biology-rich survey of the natural history, ecology, genetics, and evolution of pregnancy-like phenomena.

Author information

John C. Avise is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Irvine, and an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He is also the author of Hermaphroditism: A Primer on the Biology, Ecology, and Evolution of Dual Sexuality.

Reviews

Vincent J. Lynch:
A fun read, full of interesting natural history, and insights into evolutionary patterns and processes... This one will remain within arm's length on my desk as I prepare next quarter's lectures.

... Avise has painstakingly compiled a vast amount of information and skillfully organized and presented it in words that anyone of average intelligence can understand. We commend him for a well-researched, highly readable, and wonderfully delightful book.

Comprehensive.... Beautifully crafted and considerate.

An excellent read for anyone interested in one of the most basic mechanisms of natural selection.... Highly recommended.

David Reznick, author of The "Origin" Then and Now: An Interpretive Guide to the "Origin of Species":
Avise distills an enormous body of research into a lucid presentation of two themes. One is the remarkably diverse natural history of pregnancy, which includes oddities like male pregnancy in seahorses or mother frogs that incubate tadpoles in their stomachs, thus equating regurgitation with birth. The second is the current scientific thinking for the evolution of this diversity. Avise emphasizes that pregnancy is not the product of an adaptive, harmonious relationship between mother and offspring; it is instead shaped by conflicts between fathers, mothers, and offspring.

Francisco J. Ayala, University of California, Irvine:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy is chock-full of surprises. In addition to pregnant mammals, you will find pregnant fishes and reptiles, mollusks and sea urchins, and even worms and insects. You will find pregnant males as well. I don't know of any other book where one could find all this remarkable information, biologically significant and evolution-enlightening. Delightful and informative tidbits from mythology, literature, and history appear on virtually every page.

Adam Jones, Texas A&M University:
John C. Avise, one of the greatest naturalists and evolutionary biologists of the modern era, takes us on a fascinating journey through the amazing diversity of pregnancy-related phenomena in the natural world. His engaging prose is punctuated by wonderful illustrations and startling factoids. Throughout, he weaves an evolutionary backstory and produces a comprehensive survey of reproductive modes in a vast array of organisms. The result is a book that should be high on the reading list of anyone interested in reproductive biology or the evolution of parental care.

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
Contents Free access PDF PDF	vii
Preface Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	xiii
Acknowledgments Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	xvii
PART I. Distribution and Diversity of Pregnancy
CHAPTER ONE. One Generation Inside Another Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	3
CHAPTER TWO. Vertebrate Live- Bearers: The Borne and the Born Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	37
CHAPTER THREE. Vertebrate Alternatives to Standard Pregnancy Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	71
CHAPTER FOUR. Nonvertebrate Brooders Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	93
CHAPTER FIVE Human Pregnancy in Mythology and in Real Life Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	125
PART II. Evolutionary Ramifications of Pregnancy
CHAPTER SIX. Natural Selection During Mammalian Pregnancy Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	151
CHAPTER SEVEN. Sexual Selection and Piscine Pregnancy Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	185
CHAPTER EIGHT. Pregnancy in a Comparative Light Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	219
Epilogue Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	241
Appendix: Molecular - Genetic Parentage Analysis Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	243
Glossary Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	255
Reference S Cited Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	275
Index Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	313

Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy

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