Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior

The Nature of Evolution: Selection, Inheritance, and History – Basic Transmission Genetics – Adaptive Evolution: Natural Selection – Neutral Evolution: Genetic Drift – How Selection Changes the Genetic Composition of Population – The Origin and Maintenance of Genetic Variation – The Importance of Development in Evolution – The Expression of Variation: Reaction Norms – The Evolution of Sex – Genomic Conflict – Life History Evolution – Sex Allocation – Sexual Selection – Species and Speciation – Phylogeny and Systematics – Comparative Methods: Trees, Maps, and Traits – Key Events in Evolution – Major Events in the Geological Theatre – The Fossil Record and Life’s History – Coevolution – Evolutionary Medicine – The Impact of Evolutionary Thought on the Social Sciences – The Logic of Science – Climate and the Distribution of Life on Earth – Interactions with the Physical Environment – Population Growth: Density Effects – Interspecific Competition – Ecological Communities – Island Biogeography and Invasive Species – Energy and Matter in Ecosystems – Why So Many Species? The Factors Affecting Biodiversity – Economic Decisions for the Foraging Individual – Evolutionary Game Theory: Fighting and Contests – Mating Systems and Parental Care – Alternative Breeding Strategies – Selfishness and Altruism