The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the EnvironmentIsland Press, 30 июн. 2008 г. - Всего страниц: 472 In humanity’s more than 100,000 year history, we have evolved from vulnerable creatures clawing sustenance from Earth to a sophisticated global society manipulating every inch of it. In short, we have become the dominant animal. Why, then, are we creating a world that threatens our own species? What can we do to change the current trajectory toward more climate change, increased famine, and epidemic disease? Renowned Stanford scientists Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich believe that intelligently addressing those questions depends on a clear understanding of how we evolved and how and why we’re changing the planet in ways that darken our descendants’ future. The Dominant Animal arms readers with that knowledge, tracing the interplay between environmental change and genetic and cultural evolution since the dawn of humanity. In lucid and engaging prose, they describe how Homo sapiens adapted to their surroundings, eventually developing the vibrant cultures, vast scientific knowledge, and technological wizardry we know today. But the Ehrlichs also explore the flip side of this triumphant story of innovation and conquest. As we clear forests to raise crops and build cities, lace the continents with highways, and create chemicals never before seen in nature, we may be undermining our own supremacy. The threats of environmental damage are clear from the daily headlines, but the outcome is far from destined. Humanity can again adapt—if we learn from our evolutionary past. Those lessons are crystallized in The Dominant Animal. Tackling the fundamental challenge of the human predicament, Paul and Anne Ehrlich offer a vivid and unique exploration of our origins, our evolution, and our future. |
Результаты поиска по книге
Результаты 1 – 5 из 62
Стр. 15
... (figure 1-1). The Grants in this case were able to take advantage of a “natural experiment” (produced by an extended drought) to understand how the finches were evolving. An example of even more rapid response to selection pressure was ...
... (figure 1-1). The Grants in this case were able to take advantage of a “natural experiment” (produced by an extended drought) to understand how the finches were evolving. An example of even more rapid response to selection pressure was ...
Стр. 16
Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich, Anne H. Ehrlich. figure 1-1. Natural selection rapidly changes the beaksizes of Darwin's (Galápagos) finches. Large-beaked Geospiza fortis(A) and G. magnirostris(B) can crack or tear ...
Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich, Anne H. Ehrlich. figure 1-1. Natural selection rapidly changes the beaksizes of Darwin's (Galápagos) finches. Large-beaked Geospiza fortis(A) and G. magnirostris(B) can crack or tear ...
Стр. 17
... (figure 1-2). In 1848 the speckled form made up more than 99 percent of the peppered moth populations in the area around Manchester, England. Fifty years later, however, more than 99 percent of the Manchester-area moths were the melanic ...
... (figure 1-2). In 1848 the speckled form made up more than 99 percent of the peppered moth populations in the area around Manchester, England. Fifty years later, however, more than 99 percent of the Manchester-area moths were the melanic ...
Стр. 18
... moth examples, the basic evolutionary process consisted of individuals with some combination of genes reproducing more than those with other combinations. That figure 1-2. Top: a “speckled” form of the peppered moth 18 The Dominant Animal.
... moth examples, the basic evolutionary process consisted of individuals with some combination of genes reproducing more than those with other combinations. That figure 1-2. Top: a “speckled” form of the peppered moth 18 The Dominant Animal.
Стр. 19
Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich, Anne H. Ehrlich. figure 1-2. Top: a “speckled” form of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) is nearly invisible on a lichen-covered tree trunk, while above it and to the left a ...
Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich, Anne H. Ehrlich. figure 1-2. Top: a “speckled” form of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) is nearly invisible on a lichen-covered tree trunk, while above it and to the left a ...
Содержание
1 | |
3 | |
9 | |
35 | |
54 | |
Of Genes and Culture | 68 |
Cultural Evolution How We Relate to One Another | 97 |
Perception Evolution and Beliefs | 119 |
A New Imperative | 234 |
Altering the Global Atmosphere | 255 |
Energy Are We Running Out of It? | 290 |
Saving Our Natural Capital | 310 |
Governance Tackling Unanticipated Consequences | 331 |
Epilogue | 363 |
Postscript | 369 |
Glossary | 377 |
The Ups and Downs of Populations | 140 |
History as Cultural Evolution | 158 |
Cycles of Life and Death | 172 |
Ecosystems and Human Domination of Earth | 193 |
Consumption and Its Costs | 207 |
Notes | 401 |
Selected Bibliography | 413 |
Acknowledgments | 437 |
Index | 441 |
Другие издания - Просмотреть все
The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich,Anne H. Ehrlich Ограниченный просмотр - 2008 |
The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment Paul R. Ehrlich,Anne H. Ehrlich Недоступно для просмотра - 2009 |
Часто встречающиеся слова и выражения
activities agricultural allowed already alter animals areas atmosphere become behavior birds brain called cause century chapter chemical climate change complex conservation continue costs countries course created crops cultural cultural evolution decades depend developing diversity dominance early Earth economic ecosystem effects emissions energy environment environmental evolution evolutionary evolved example figure fish forests fossil fuels future genes genetic global greenhouse groups growing growth heating human important increase individuals industrial influence instance interactions interest Island issues land lead less living major million move natural occurred oceans organisms original past percent plants poor population Press problems produce recent reduce relatively remains result rise scientists selection shows social society soil species supply theory tion turn United University York