Animal Athletes

Duncan J. Irschick is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His interests include the evolution of form and function, ecology, and biomechanics. He has worked with many different animal species, including lizards, snakes, spiders, mammals, and sharks. He obtained his PhD from Washington University in St. Louis in 1996.Timothy E. Higham is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of California, Riverside. He studies comparative biomechanics, functional morphology, and physiology in a variety of organisms ranging from lizards to fishes. He received his PhD from the University of California, Davis in 2006.

• 1. Animal performance: an overview ; 2. The ecology of performance I: Studies of fitness ; 3. The ecology of performance II: Performance in nature ; 4. The ecology of performance III: Physiological ecology ; 5. The evolution of performance I: Mechanism and anatomy ; 6. The evolution of performance II: Convergence, key innovations, and adaptation. ; 7. Trade-offs and constraints on performance ; 8. Sexual selection and performance ; 9. Extreme performance: The good, the bad, and the extremely rapid ; 10. Genetics, geographic variation, and community ecology ; 11. Human performance: A link to non-human animals ; 12. Conclusion

[S]uitable for all interested in the subject. The work is well referenced; a comprehensive index allows the reader to find desired examples (or principles).