我們和所有物種一樣，終將滅絕。動物物種平均約可存在兩百萬年，至少在這方面已獲得充分研究的生物分類族群皆如是。如果只考量我們所屬的物種―─智人，這表示我們還有一點時間。▍想要探究人類未來的命運，首先要知道：我們在生物歷史的什麼位置？就生物學的生命演化樹來看，那些最古老又最龐大的枝幹上面，都是我們得用顯微鏡才看得到的單細胞生物所構成的演化分支。在生物學界，這早就不是新觀念，而是很久以前就知道的事實──我們，哺乳類動物，只是生命演化樹上的其中一個小細枝。▍人類還剩下多少時間？生物法則告訴我們的是……動物物種平均約可存在兩百萬年，人類還剩多少時間？如果我們不至於太過揮霍的話。人類的生存活動已經足以改變地球的氣候、生物的分布與移動。但「生物法則」是一條鐵律，在所有的人類行為中發揮著無形的作用。當我們透過卓越的創新能力、運用科技，「懂得使用蒸氣與燃煤產生動力，也會使用核能、空調與中央暖氣，還興建海水淡化廠，打造其他光鮮亮麗的現代化設備，人類的生態棲位偏偏就是縮小了」。▍企圖掌控大自然的我們，是否讓自然走到了盡頭？1989年，比爾．麥克齊本（Bill McKibben）出版了知名的《自然的盡頭》（The End of Nature）。麥克齊本登高一呼，替自然發出反抗之聲，以強大的動能促成保育行動以及減緩氣候變遷的嘗試。但本書作者唐恩告訴我們：❝這些情況和自然走到盡頭無關。人類走到盡頭的時間，遠比自然走到盡頭要早得多。❞人類對於這個世界的生物所知依然太少，但可以從作者揭示的生物法則中瞭解：當一個物種──比如人類──滅絕以後，大自然會持續依照「規則」進行調整，最後達到某種動態平衡。這並不是說，人類可以繼續破壞自然。而是我們並沒有自己想像中那麼偉大。若是要讓人類能夠在這個星球上存活久一點，我們需要趕緊把握時間。▍我們能否打造一個讓所有物種都活下來的方舟？諾亞方舟的故事中，人類打造了一艘圓船，讓所有動物們乘坐以渡過洪災。生物學家發現，由於人類造成的氣候變遷，動物們也必須遷移才能生存──找到適合的氣候棲位（climate niche）。因此透過對自然法則的理解，建造物種移動所需要的「廊道」，就是生態保育的重要關鍵；作者所參與的夏蘭大計畫（Charlanta project）正是協助我們打造一艘「方舟」以延續物種生命的研究。密西西比河的一再氾濫，是自然給予人類的啟示。生物學家羅伯・唐恩透過各
From the mysteries and wonders of the natural world to man-made marvels in science, technology, and innovation, planet Earth is full of fun and fascinating things to discover at any age. Although most knowledge can be obtained online today, there is nothing quite like the charm of learning from a book packed with witty writing and illustrations like Diarmuid Ó Catháin’s compelling series on Little-known Facts. 9789887972600 Animals 動物The Animals edition presents some of the most intriguing details about the creatures that inhabit our land, air, and sea using clever rhymes and visuals that make for an enjoyable and eye-opening reading experience.9789887972648 The Human Body 人體奧秘Brimming with character, The Human Body edition presents readers with the unique opportunity to explore the extraordinary and unexpected traits and biology of people in an easy-to-remember and visually delightful way.
If you accept evolutionary theory, can you also believe in God? Are human beings superior to other animals, or is this just a human prejudice? Does Darwin have implications for heated issues like euthanasia and animal rights? Does evolution tell us the purpose of life, or does it imply that life has no ultimate purpose? Does evolution tell us what is morally right and wrong, or does it imply that ultimately 'nothing' is right or wrong? In this fascinating and intriguing book, Steve Stewart-Williams addresses these and other fundamental philosophical questions raised by evolutionary theory and the exciting new field of evolutionary psychology. Drawing on biology, psychology and philosophy, he argues that Darwinian science supports a view of a godless universe devoid of ultimate purpose or moral structure, but that we can still live a good life and a happy life within the confines of this view.
Dr. Sylvia Mader's succinct, precise writing style. Sylvia's writing is what has earned her a reputation as one of the most successful introductory biology textbook authors ever, and it is the most co
The range of environments in which people can survive is extensive, yet most of the natural world cannot support human life. The Biology of Human Survival identifies the key determinants of life or d
Research Methods in Human Skeletal Biology serves as the one location readers can go to not only learn?how to conduct research in general, but how research is specifically conducted within human skele
From a single cell--a fertilized egg--comes an elephant, a fly, or a human. How does this astonishing feat happen? How does the egg "know" what to become? How does it divide into the different cells,
Dr. Sylvia Mader's succinct, precise writing style. Sylvia's writing is what has earned her a reputation as one of the most successful introductory biology textbook authors ever, and it is the most co
Instructors consistently ask for a Human Biology textbook that helps students understand the main themes of biology through the lens of the human body. Mader’sHuman Biology, 14th Edition accomplishes
Instructors consistently ask for a Human Biology textbook that helps students understand the main themes of biology through the lens of the human body. Mader’sHuman Biology, 14th Edition accomplishes
Instructors consistently ask for a Human Biology textbook that helps students understand the main themes of biology through the lens of the human body. Mader’s Human Biology, 15th Edition accomplishes
