The book discusses the controversial issue of whether animals are designed according to the same rules that engineers use in building machines, namely that materials and energy are used economically while attempting to achieve a high level of performance. There is considerable scientific controversy surrounding this question because, although there is much evidence suggesting that animals are indeed well designed, evolutionary biology tells us that animals are not 'engineered' but result from evolution by natural selection. This book collates this evidence which is discussed by a group of eminent biologists from many different biological disciplines.

List of contributors

ix

(4)

Preface

xiii

(2)

In memory of Charles Richard Taylor (1939-1995)

xv

(3)

Ewald R. Weibel

Liana Bolis

A life with animals: from cat to fish

xviii

Liana Bolis

1 Symmorphosis and optimization of biological design: introduction and questions

1

(10)

Ewald R. Weibel

2 How much structure is enough?

11

(26)

2.1 Overview

11

(2)

Knut Schmidt-Nielsen

2.2 Convergence as an analytical tool in evaluating design

13

(8)

Steven Vogel

2.3 Evolution of biological safety factors: a cost/benefit analysis

21

(7)

Jared M. Diamond

2.4 Symmorphosis and safety factors

28

(9)

R. McNeill Alexander

3 Evolution of optimal systems

37

(26)

3.1 Overview

37

(3)

Malcolm S. Gordon

3.2 Conceptual and methodological issues in testing the predictions of symmorphosis

40

(8)

Theodore Garland, Jr.

3.3 Testing the evolutionary origin and maintenance of symmorphosis

48

(8)

Martin E. Feder

3.4 The concept of symmorphosis applied to growing birds

56

(7)

Robert E. Ricklefs

4 Bone design and biomechanics

63

(24)

4.1 Overview

63

(1)

Simon Maddrell

4.2 Optimality in the design of bony elements

64

(6)

Pieter Dullemeijer

4.3 Optimization of musculoskeletal design -- does symmorphosis apply?

70

(8)

Andrew A. Biewener

4.4 Responses of bone to stress: constraints on symmorphosis

78

(9)

Daniel E. Lieberman

Alfred W. Crompton

5 Muscles and locomotion

87

(42)

5.1 Overview

87

(2)

James W. Glasheen

5.2 The malleability of skeletal muscle

89

(6)

Dirk Pette

Robert S. Staron

5.3 Fine tuning the molecular motor of muscle

95

(8)

H. Lee Sweeney

5.4 Matching muscle performance to changing demand

103

(11)

Lawrence C. Rome

5.5 Moving on land: optimizing for minimum cost

114

(7)

Thomas J. Roberts

5.6 Optimization of cost of transport in swimming

121

(8)

Daniel Weihs

6 Design of cells for metabolism

129

(36)

6.1 Overview

129

(2)

Stan L. Lindstedt

6.2 Molecular symmorphosis, metabolic regulation, and metabolons

131

(9)

Paul A. Srere

6.3 Are protein isoforms requisite for optimizing regulation of ATP turnover rates?

140

(7)

Peter W. Hochachka

6.4 Muscle energy balance in sound production and flight

147

(8)

Kevin E. Conley

Stan L. Lindstedt

6.5 Design of glycolytic and oxidative capacities in muscles

155

(10)

Raul K. Suarez

7 Lungs and gills for gas exchange

165

(38)

7.1 Overview

165

(3)

Pierre Dejours

7.2 Limits of adaptation in pulmonary gas exchange

168

(9)

Connie C. W. Hsia

7.3 The lungs of the flying vertebrates -- birds and bats: is their structure optimized for this elite mode of locomotion?

177

(9)

John N. Maina

7.4 Gills of water-breathers: structures with multiple functions

186

(9)

Edwin W. Taylor

7.5 Factors influencing the optimization of hemoglobin oxygen transport in fish

195

(8)

David Randall

8 Nutrient supply system

203

(36)

8.1 Overview

203

(2)

Amiram Shkolnik

8.2 The match between load and capacity during lactation: where is the limit to energy expenditure?

205

(7)

Kimberly A. Hammond

8.3 Optimization in design of the digestive system

212

(8)

Ian D. Hume

8.4 How ruminants adapt and optimize their digestive system "blueprint" in response to resource shifts

220

(10)

Reinhold R. Hofmann

8.5 Optimality in complex dynamic systems: constraints, trade-offs, priorities

230

(9)

Wolfgang Wieser

9 Integrative systems for oxygen and fuel delivery

239

(30)

9.1 Overview

239

(2)

Ricardo Martinez-Ruiz

9.2 Symmorphosis and the mammalian respiratory system: what is optimal design and does it exist?

241

(8)

James H. Jones

9.3 Adjusting maximal fuel delivery for differences in demand

249

(6)

Jean-Michel Weber

9.4 The converging pathways for oxygen and substrates in muscle mitochondria

255

(8)

Hans Hoppeler

9.5 Fuel specialists for endurance

263

(6)

Yvon Le Maho

Mohamed Bnouham

10 Design of nervous systems

269

(30)

10.1 Overview

269

(2)

Richard D. Keynes

10.2 The design of peripheral nerve fibers

271

(7)

Richard D. Keynes

10.3 Observing design with compound eyes

278

(10)

Simon B. Laughlin

10.4 Evolution of a visual system for life without light: optimization via tinkering in blind mole rats

288

(11)

Eviatar Nevo

11 How good is best? Some afterthoughts on symmorphosis and optimization

299

(8)

Ewald R. Weibel

Index

307

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

We're the #1 textbook rental company. Let us show you why.

Principles of Animal Design: The Optimization and Symmorphosis Debate

9780521583701

0521583705

Supplemental Materials

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Rewards Program