Rules and Exceptions in Biology: from Fundamental Concepts to Applications

Alfredo Vicente Peretti is Principal Researcher of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Argentina, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET-IDEA) and Associate Professor of the Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. His main areas of interest and research are in zoology, with emphasis on invertebrates. He works on behavior, ecology and evolution, especially in the field of reproductive biology using arthropods as models.Lucia Calbacho-Rosa is an Associate Researcher at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Argentina, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET-IDEA). Her main research areas are behavior, reproductive biology, sexual selection and studies of genital morphology using arthropod species as models.Paola Andrea Olivero is an Assistant Researcher at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Argentina, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET-IDEA). and Associate Professor of general biology at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. Her research is related to the study of the reproductive biology, analyzing courtship behavior and patterns of differential paternity in arthropods.Mariela Oviedo-Diego is Postdoctoral Fellow at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Argentina, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET-IDEA) and a vocational teacher of entomology at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. Her research has focused on sexual behavior, the study of pre- and postcopulatory characters, and reproductive interference in different arachnid species.David Eduardo Vrech is Associate Researcher at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Argentina, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (CONICET-IDEA) and Assistant Professor specializing in invertebrate biology at the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. His primary research areas encompass sexual selection, reproductive biology, and the investigation of sperm competition across arachnid groups.

• A Big World of Rules?.- A Small World of Exceptions?.- Associations and Dynamics Between Rules and Exceptions.- When THAT rule almost persists as THAT rule.- When THAT exception persists almost as THAT exception.- Focusing on dynamics: when an exception becomes a rule.- Focusing on dynamics: when a rule becomes in an exception.- Beyond Biology.- Overview and final prospects.

“The volume is well researched with thorough literature reviews, and it will be of interest to any biologist studying various rules. … Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.” (E. J. Sargis, Choice, Vol. 62 (5), 2024)