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 42
Стр. 18
... lead to individuals easily spotted by birds and thus with little chance of surviving to reproduce. But much evidence also shows that natural selection is operating even where there are no fast or dramatic changes in the environment ...
... lead to individuals easily spotted by birds and thus with little chance of surviving to reproduce. But much evidence also shows that natural selection is operating even where there are no fast or dramatic changes in the environment ...
Стр. 23
... lead normal lives, though at high altitude. figure 1-4. Microscopic view of red blood cells with the sickle-cell trait. Normal red blood cells are disk shaped; the elongated ones here are “sickled.” Photograph courtesy of Dr. J. H. ...
... lead normal lives, though at high altitude. figure 1-4. Microscopic view of red blood cells with the sickle-cell trait. Normal red blood cells are disk shaped; the elongated ones here are “sickled.” Photograph courtesy of Dr. J. H. ...
Стр. 24
... lead normal lives, though at high altitude or in some other situations, they can be subject to sickness or even death. Individuals who have both of the sickling genes (both alleles) have an inherited condition that causes their red ...
... lead normal lives, though at high altitude or in some other situations, they can be subject to sickness or even death. Individuals who have both of the sickling genes (both alleles) have an inherited condition that causes their red ...
Стр. 26
... lead to some protection from malaria but may also lead to a suite of other changes, from spleen enlargement to susceptibility to pneumonia. The interaction of genes with the environment produces a complex, observable phenotype (defined ...
... lead to some protection from malaria but may also lead to a suite of other changes, from spleen enlargement to susceptibility to pneumonia. The interaction of genes with the environment produces a complex, observable phenotype (defined ...
Стр. 30
... what your family passes on will change. Furthermore, the very process of reproduction leads to random changes in the proportion of particular genes— a phenomenon known as genetic drift—just by the accident of 30 The Dominant Animal.
... what your family passes on will change. Furthermore, the very process of reproduction leads to random changes in the proportion of particular genes— a phenomenon known as genetic drift—just by the accident of 30 The Dominant Animal.
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