Evolutionary Biomechanics (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780198566380)

Evolutionary biomechanics is the study of evolution through the analysis of biomechanical systems. Its unique advantage is the precision with which physical constraints and performance can be predicted from first principles. Instead of reviewing the entire breadth of the biomechanical literature, a few key examples are explored in depth as vehicles for discussing fundamental concepts, analytical techniques, and evolutionary theory. Each chapter develops a conceptual theme, developing the underlying theory and techniques required for analyses in evolutionary biomechanics. Examples from terrestrial biomechanics, metabolic scaling, and bird flight are used to analyse how physics constrains the design space that natural selection is free to explore, and how adaptive evolution finds solutions to the trade-offs between multiple complex conflicting performance objectives.

Evolutionary Biomechanics is suitable for graduate level students and professional researchers in the fields of biomechanics, physiology, evolutionary biology and palaeontology. It will also be of relevance and use to researchers in the physical sciences and engineering.

Author: Graham Taylor, Adrian Thomas
ISBN-10: 0198566387
ISBN-13: 9780198566380
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Language: English
Published: 03/16/2014
Pages: 176
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 9.00h x 5.90w x 0.40d