Only in Africa

The Ecology of Human Evolution

Inbunden, Engelska, 2021

AvNorman Owen-Smith

1 319 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 7-10 vardagar. Fri frakt för medlemmar vid köp för minst 249 kr.

Finns i fler format (1)

Häftad

719 kr

Skickas

That humans originated from Africa is well-known. However, this is widely regarded as a chance outcome, dependant simply on where our common ancestor shared the land with where the great apes lived. This volume builds on from the 'Out of Africa' theory, and takes the view that it is only in Africa that the evolutionary transitions from a forest-inhabiting frugivore to savanna-dwelling meat-eater could have occurred. This book argues that the ecological circumstances that shaped these transitions are exclusive to Africa. It describes distinctive features of the ecology of Africa, with emphasis on savanna grasslands, and relates them to the evolutionary transitions linking early ape-men to modern humans. It shows how physical features of the continent, especially those derived from plate tectonics, set the foundations. This volume adequately conveys that we are here because of the distinctive features of the ecology of Africa.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2021-10-07
Mått175 x 250 x 23 mm
Vikt860 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor378
FörlagCambridge University Press
ISBN9781108832595

Tillhör följande kategorier

Norman Owen-Smith headed the Centre for African Ecology at the University of the Witwatersrand before his retirement as Emeritus Professor there. He is an A-rated scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. He received Gold Medals from the Zoological Society of Southern Africa and the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, Wildlife Excellence Award from the Southern African Wildlife Management Association, Honorary Life Membership in the Ecological Society of America, and was awarded a Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship in 2005. He has written or edited six books, including Megaherbivores: The Influence of Very Large Body Size on Ecology (Cambridge, 1988) and Adaptive Herbivore Ecology: From Resources to Populations in Variable Environments (Cambridge, 2002).

Preface; Foreword; List of abbreviations; Part I. The physical cradle: Land forms, geology, climate, hydrology and soils: 1. High Africa: Eroding surfaces; 2. Climate: Rainfall seasonality; 3. Water in rivers, lakes and wetlands; 4. Bedrock geology: Volcanic influences; 5. Soils: Foundations of fertility; Part II. The savanna garden: Grassy vegetation and plant dynamics: 6. Forms of savannah; 7. How savanna trees and grasses grow and compete; 8. Plant demography and dynamics: Fire traps; 9. Paleo-savannas: Expanding grasslands; Part III. The big mammal menagerie: Herbivores, carnivores and their ecosystem impacts: 10. Niche distinctions: resources versus risks; 11. Big fierce carnivores: Hunting versus scavenging; 12. Herbivore abundance: Bottom-up and top-down; 13. How large herbivores transform savanna ecosystems; 14. Paleo-faunas: Rise and fall of the biggest grazers; Part IV. Evolutionary transitions: From primate ancestors to modern humans: 15. Primate predecessors: From trees to ground; 16. Primate ecology: From forests into savannas; 17. How an ape became a hunter; 18. Cultural evolution: From tools to art and genes; 19. Reticulate evolution through turbulent times; 20. Prospects for a lonely planet; Index.

Mer från samma författare

Conserving Africa's Mega-Diversity in the Anthropocene

Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Sally Archibald, Norman Owen-Smith

Inbunden

909 kr

Introduction to Modeling in Wildlife and Resource Conservation

Norman Owen-Smith

Häftad

959 kr

Dynamics of Large Herbivore Populations in Changing Environments

Norman Owen-Smith

Inbunden

2 479 kr

Elephant Management

Robert J. Scholes, Kathleen G. Mennell, Brandon Anthony, Graham Avery, Dave Balfour, Jonathan Barnes, Roy Gordon Bengis, Henk Bertschinger, Harry Biggs, James N. Blignaut, André Boshoff, Jane Carruthers, Guy Castley, Tony Conway, Warwick Davies-Mostert, Yolandi de Beer, Willem F de Boer, Audrey Delsink, Martin de Wit, Saliem Fakir, Sam M. Ferreira, Andre Ganswindt, Marion E. Garaï, Angela Gaylard, Katie Gough, C C (Rina) Grant, Douw Grobler, Robert Guldemond, Peter Hartley, Michelle Henley, Markus Hofmeyr, Lisa Hopkinson, Tim P. Jackson, Jessica Junker, Graham Kerley, Hanno Killian, Jay Kirkpatrick, Laurence Kruger, Marietjie Landman, Keith Lindsay, Rob Little, H P P (Hennie) Lötter, Robin L. Mackey, Hector Magome, Johan Malan, Wayne Matthews, Pieter Olivier, Theresia Ott, Norman Owen-Smith, Bruce Page, Mike J. S. Peel, Michele Pickover, Mogobe Ramose, Jeremy Ridl, Rob Slotow, Izak Smit, Morgan Trimble, Wayne Twine, Rudi J. van Aarde, J. J. van Altena, Marius van Staden, Ian Whyte, Robert (Bob) Scholes, Kathleen G Mennell