Life history theory seeks to explain the evolution of the major features of life cycles by
analyzing the ecological factors that shape age-specific schedules of growth, reproduction,
and survival, and by investigating the trade-offs that constrain the evolution of these traits.
Althoughlifehistorytheoryhasmadeenormousprogressinexplainingthediversityoflife
history strategies among species, it traditionally ignores the underlying proximate mechanisms.
This novel book argues that many fundamental problems in life history evolution, includ¬ ingthenatureoftrade-offs,canonlybefullyresolvedifwebegintointegrateinformationon developmental, physiological, and genetic mechanisms into the classical life history framework. Each chapter is written by an established or up-and-coming leader in their respective field; they not only represent the state of the art but also offer fresh perspectives for future research. The text is divided into 7 sections that cover: basic concepts (Part 1); the mechanisms that affect different parts of the life cycle (growth, development, and maturation; reproduction; and aging and somatic maintenance) (Parts 2-4); life history plasticity (Part 5); life history integration and trade-offs (Part 6); and concludes with a synthesischapterwrittenbya prominentleaderinthefieldandan editorialpostscript(Part7).
This multidisciplinary book will be of interest to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in the fields of evolutionary biology, evo-devo, development, physiology, and aging, who share an interest in understanding the mechanisms that shape the expression and evolution of fitness components, including developmental traits, reproduction, and lifespan. ^