Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography

Description

Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography offers an introduction to the study of the ecological and evolutionary processes that have shaped our present biosphere under the influence of glacial-interglacial cycles. Written by an ecologist with paleoecological expertise, this book reviews the climactic changes that have occurred during the last 2.6 million years, along with the responses of organisms and ecosystems. It offers an understanding of the evolutionary origin of extant biodiversity, its biogeographical patterns, and the composition of modern ecological communities. In addition, it explores human evolution and the influence of our activities on the biosphere, especially in the last millennia. This book offers the latest information on how studying the past can contribute to our understanding of present climate issues for a better future, and is an ideal resource for researchers and students in the natural sciences. Includes the latest developments in genomics and their relevance within Quaternary evolutionOffers a holistic view of the origin of biodiversity patterns and community assemblyDiscusses the role of climate on human evolution and the ecological consequences for natural systems Cover Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction Aims and scope Cyclical and directional phenomena Ecology and paleoecology Audience and approach Book plan References Selected books and journals on Quaternary science WARNING!!! DUMMY ENTRY Books Journals one Climate: continuous variability and its impact on the Earth System 1.1 Some notions of paleoclimatology 1.1.1 Paleoclimatic proxies 1.1.2 The oxygen isotopic ratio 1.2 Quaternary climatic variability 1.2.1 Glacial–interglacial cycles 1.2.2 The last four glaciations 1.2.3 The last glaciation 1.2.4 The Last Glacial Maximum 1.2.5 The Late Glacial and the Holocene 1.2.6 The last millennia 1.2.7 Interannual moisture variations 1.3 Synthesis: unpredictable complexity References two Organisms: adaption, extinction, and biogeographical reorganizations 2.1 How do species respond to climatic changes? 2.1.1 The ecological niche 2.1.2 Types of biotic responses 2.2 Biotic responses to the climatic changes of the Quaternary 2.2.1 Survival in situ 2.2.2 Traveling with climate 2.2.3 Extinction 2.2.4 The biomes 2.3 Synthesis: more complexity, idiosyncrasy, and geographical shifts References three Biodiversity: diversification or impoverishment? 3.1 What is biodiversity and how does it originate? 3.1.1 Speciation 3.1.2 Extinction 3.2 Latitudinal gradients of biodiversity 3.3 The molecular revolution 3.4 Heterodox theories of diversification 3.4.1 The neutral theory of biodiversity 3.4.2 Punctuated equilibrium 3.4.3 The Red Queen hypothesis 3.5 Quaternary evolution 3.5.1 Microevolution 3.5.2 Macroevolution 3.5.3 Tropical biodiversity 3.6 Synthesis: net diversification References four Communities: adjustments, innovations, and revolutions 4.1 Long-term ecology 4.2 Succession and community assembly 4.3 Stability, resilience, and domains of attraction 4.4 Quaternary community ecology 4.4.1 Typical Quaternary communities 4.4.2 Chronosequences and Quaternary successions 4.4.3 Community disassembly and reassembly 4.4.4 Continuous changes in composition 4.4.5 Stability, resilience, and nonlinear responses 4.4.6 Communities without modern analogs and ghost communities 4.5 Recent developments 4.5.1 Paleoecological modeling 4.5.2 Molecular phylogenetics and community assembly 4.6 Synthesis: “everything flows; nothing remains” References five Humans: occupation and humanization of the planet 5.1 Human evolution 5.1.1 Hominids and hominins 5.1.2 The genus Homo 5.1.3 The Neanderthals 5.1.4 Homo sapiens and the full occupation of the planet 5.2 The Holocene and the Neolithic Revolution 5.2.1 The Mesolithic transition 5.2.2 The Neolithic Revolution 5.2.3 Ecological consequences of the Neolithic Revolution 5.3 From one revolution to another; the last 5000 years 5.3.1 Environmental determinism 5.3.2 Human determinism 5.3.3 The descriptive approach 5.3.4 The holistic approach 5.4 The Industrial Revolution and the Great Acceleration 5.5 Synthesis: a humble origin but limitless ambition References six The future: natural cycles and human interference 6.1 Will we disrupt natural variability? 6.1.1 Our interglacial: the Holocene 6.1.2 The next glaciation 6.2 A natural end to the planet’s destruction 6.2.1 Our extinction 6.2.2 Alive but not decisive 6.3 The “Anthropocene” 6.3.1 State of the art 6.3.2 The controversy 6.3.3 What is and what is not the “Anthropocene”? 6.4 Synthesis: between science fiction and the “Anthropocene” References Epilogue The missing link between ecology and evolution References Index Back Cover