Author Description

This handbook of comparative physiology brings together for the first time a review of the entire field at the advanced level appropriate for research scientists, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. It begins with a chapter on adaptation and the evolution of physiological characters. After that introduction, it is organized to provide a complete survey of comparative physiology for both vertebrates and invertebrates, with up-to-date chapters on each of the organ systems. Following these chapters, the book addresses comparative physiological strategies for dealing with many environmental problems such as extreme temperatures, extreme dryness, seasonal and diurnal cycles, and variations in salinity and osmolarity of aqueous environments. Thus the book provides a comprehensive review of the differing physiological strategies employed by vertebrates and invertebrate species to deal with common problems.