Description

Scaling relationships have been a persistent theme in biology at least since the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo. While there have been many excellent empirical and theoretical investigations, there has been little attempt to synthesize this diverse but interrelated area of biology. In an effort to fill this void, Scaling in Biology , the first general treatment of scaling in biology in over 15 years, covers a broad spectrum of the most relevant topics in a series of chapters written by experts in the field. Some of those topics discussed include allometry and fractal structure, branching of vascular systems of mammals and plants, biomechanical and life history of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates, and species-area patterns of biological diversity.

Reviews

"I personally appreciate this volume because it represents genuine integrative biology--understanding system behavior from underlying principles and components. The viewpoint is frequently praised but seldom achieved in detail. This book is, in my opinion, an important contribution to quantitative biology and can be read and appreciated by both biologists and mathematicians."--Doody's

Product Details

368 pages; 91 b/w illus; 6-1/8 x 9-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-513142-0ISBN10: 0-19-513142-8

About the Author(s)