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Amphibians are the oldest tetrapod group and show an astonishing diversity in lifestyles, many of them being unique. However, globally, they are on a decline. Hence, their study is fundamental to understanding the evolution of diversity and conserving them. This book, authored by experts from around the world, summarizes the current knowledge on the evolutionary ecology of amphibians. The book treats biological concepts related to the evolution, ecology, physiology, immunology, behaviour, and morphology of amphibians in their different states. This book constitutes an actualized work indispensable for evolutionary ecologists and herpetologists.
List of contents
Introduction to the Book. Origin, Evolution and Diversification of Extant Amphibians. Amphibian Ecophysiology. Eco-Immunology of Amphibians. Amphibian Crisis and the Impact of Emerging Pathogens. Thermoregulation and Hydric Balance in Amphibians. The Biogeography of Body Size in Amphibians. Evolution and Ecology of Locomotion in Amphibians. Diversity of Reproductive Strategies in the Amphibia. Chemical Communication and Deterrence in Amphibians. Acoustic Communication in Anurans. Amphibian Coloration: Proximate Mechanisms, Function, and Evolution.
About the author
Dr. Gregorio Moreno-Rueda (University of Granada, Spain) is an evolutionary ecologist with more than one hundred publications dealing with vertebrate ecology. He mainly studies the evolution of trade-offs determining life history traits, in particular how the immune system trades off with other physiological traits.
Dr. Mar Comas (Dartmouth College, USA) is a herpetologist specialising in amphibian evolutionary ecology. Mar Comas works mainly on how amphibians deal with parasites and the trade-offs of these antiparasitic strategies with other physiological traits.
Summary
The book treats biological concepts related to the evolution, ecology, physiology, immunology, behaviour, and morphology of amphibians in their different states. This book constitutes an actualized work indispensable for evolutionary ecologists and herpetologists.
