Beginning in the shallow oceans of the Cambrian Period and ending in the hyperdiverse rain forests of our own Cenozoic Era, "Planet of the Bugs" spins a sweeping account of the insects evolution from humble arthropod ancestors into the bugs we love or hate to see today. It shows how the evolutionary innovations which bombinate across the geologic agessuch as small body size, wings, metamorphosis, and parasitic behaviorenabled the insects to disperse widely, occupy increasingly smaller niches, and survive global catastrophe ...
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Beginning in the shallow oceans of the Cambrian Period and ending in the hyperdiverse rain forests of our own Cenozoic Era, "Planet of the Bugs" spins a sweeping account of the insects evolution from humble arthropod ancestors into the bugs we love or hate to see today. It shows how the evolutionary innovations which bombinate across the geologic agessuch as small body size, wings, metamorphosis, and parasitic behaviorenabled the insects to disperse widely, occupy increasingly smaller niches, and survive global catastrophe in their rise to species dominance. Along the way, the book introduces us to a fascinating repertoire of insects, from caddisflies that weave silken aquatic nets, which they use to catch floating debris and construct portable houses, to parasitic wasp larvae that develop inside the blood of host insects and, by accumulating waste products in their rear end, defecating only after they emerge, show how it s possible not to pee in the pool. Shaw not only explores the history of insect evolution and behavior, he also reveals how changes in Earth s geology, flora, and fauna contributed to the insect s success and how, in return, the insects helped shape terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, becoming so essential that without them, our terrestrial ecosystems would be vastly diminished, if not entirely destroyed. He ultimately turns his eyes toward the stars and wonders if insect-like creatures exist on other habitable planets, but not before passionately calling attention to the current extinction crisis here on Earth, one that could potentially extinguish the majority of insects along with the rain forests they inhabit."
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Seller's Description:
Fine in very good dust jacket. Glued binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 256 p. Contains: Illustrations, black & white, Figures. Audience: General/trade. No marks of any kind in the book.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Fine jacket. From publisher: Dinosaurs, however toothy, did not rule the earth and neither do humans But what were and are the true potentates of our planet? Insects, says Scott Richard Shaw millions and millions of insect species Starting in the shallow oceans of ancient Earth and ending in the far reaches of outer space where, Shaw proposes, insect-like aliens may have achieved similar preeminence Planet of the Bugs spins a sweeping account of insects' evolution from humble arthropod ancestors into the bugs we know and love (or fear and hate) today Leaving no stone unturned, Shaw explores how evolutionary innovations such as small body size, wings, metamorphosis, and parasitic behavior have enabled insects to disperse widely, occupy increasingly narrow niches, and survive global catastrophes in their rise to dominance Through buggy tales by turns bizarre and comical, from caddisflies that construct portable houses or weave silken aquatic nets to trap floating debris, to parasitic wasp larvae that develop in the blood of host insects and, by storing waste products in their rear ends, are able to postpone defecation until after they emerge he not only unearths how changes in our planet's geology, flora, and fauna contributed to insects' success, but also how, in return, insects came to shape terrestrial ecosystems and amplify biodiversity Indeed, in his visits to hyper-diverse rain forests to highlight the current insect extinction crisis, Shaw reaffirms just how crucial these tiny beings are to planetary health and human survival In this age of honeybee die-offs and bedbugs hitching rides in the spines of library books, Planet of the Bugs charms with humor, affection, and insight into the world's six-legged creatures, revealing an essential importance that resonates across time and space Essentially as new condition, "gift quality" 240 pp.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. Glued binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 256 p. Contains: Illustrations, black & white, Figures. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Glued binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 256 p. Contains: Illustrations, black & white, Figures. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
