مهندسی حیوانات: چگونه زندگی کار می‌کند

From an engineer's perspective, how do specialized adaptations among living things really work? In this book the authors offer a look at animals, including humans, as works of evolutionary engineering, each adapted to a specific manner of survival whether that means spinning webs or flying across continents or hunting in the dark, or writing books. The alarm calls of birds make them difficult for predators to locate, while the howl of wolves and the croak of bullfrogs are designed to carry across long distances. From an engineer's perspective, how do such specialized adaptations among living things really work? And how does physics constrain evolution, channeling it in particular directions? This particular book, containing more than a hundred illustrations, conveys the physical principles underlying animal structure and behavior. Pigeons, for instance, when understood as marvels of engineering, are flying remote sensors: they have wideband acoustical receivers, hi-res optics, magnetic sensing, and celestial navigation. Albatrosses expend little energy while traveling across vast southern oceans, by exploiting a technique known to glider pilots as dynamic soaring. Among insects, one species of fly can locate the source of a sound precisely, even though the fly itself is much smaller than the wavelength of the sound it hears. And that big-brained, upright Great Ape? Evolution has equipped us to figure out an important fact about the natural world: that there is more to life than engineering, but no life at all without it.;Part 1. Structure and movement. Go with the flow ; Structural engineering : the bare bones ; A moving experience ; A mind of its own ; Built for life ; Simple complexity : emergent behavior -- Part 2. Remote sensing. A chemical universe ; Sound ideas ; Animal sonar ; Seeing the light ; There and back again : animal navigation ; Talk to the animals.

The alarm calls of birds make them difficult for predators to locate, while the howl of wolves and the croak of bullfrogs are designed to carry across long distances. From an engineer’s perspective, how do such specialized adaptations among living things really work? And how does physics constrain evolution, channeling it in particular directions?

Writing with wit and a richly informed sense of wonder, Denny and McFadzean offer an expert look at animals as works of engineering, each exquisitely adapted to a specific manner of survival, whether that means spinning webs or flying across continents or hunting in the dark—or writing books. This particular book, containing more than a hundred illustrations, conveys clearly, for engineers and nonengineers alike, the physical principles underlying animal structure and behavior.

Pigeons, for instance—when understood as marvels of engineering—are flying remote sensors: they have wideband acoustical receivers, hi-res optics, magnetic sensing, and celestial navigation. Albatrosses expend little energy while traveling across vast southern oceans, by exploiting a technique known to glider pilots as dynamic soaring. Among insects, one species of fly can locate the source of a sound precisely, even though the fly itself is much smaller than the wavelength of the sound it hears. And that big-brained, upright Great Ape? Evolution has equipped us to figure out an important fact about the natural world: that there is more to life than engineering, but no life at all without it.

Main description: The alarm calls of birds make them difficult for predators to locate, while the howl of wolves and the croak of bullfrogs are designed to carry across long distances. From an engineer's perspective, how do such specialized adaptations among living things really work? And how does physics constrain evolution, channeling it in particular directions?Writing with wit and a richly informed sense of wonder, Denny and McFadzean offer an expert look at animals as works of engineering, each exquisitely adapted to a specific manner of survival, whether that means spinning webs or flying across continents or hunting in the dark-or writing books. This particular book, containing more than a hundred illustrations, conveys clearly, for engineers and nonengineers alike, the physical principles underlying animal structure and behavior. Pigeons, for instance-when understood as marvels of engineering-are flying remote sensors: they have wideband acoustical receivers, hi-res optics, magnetic sensing, and celestial navigation. Albatrosses expend little energy while traveling across vast southern oceans, by exploiting a technique known to glider pilots as dynamic soaring. Among insects, one species of fly can locate the source of a sound precisely, even though the fly itself is much smaller than the wavelength of the sound it hears. And that big-brained, upright Great Ape? Evolution has equipped us to figure out an important fact about the natural world: that there is more to life than engineering, but no life at all without it Contents 8 Prologue 12 Part One: Structure and Movement 16 1. Go with the Flow 18 2. Structural Engineering: Th e Bare Bones 46 3. A Moving Experience 69 4. A Mind of Its Own 92 5. Built for Life 117 6. Simple Complexity: Emergent Behavior 141 Part Two: Remote Sensing 164 7. A Chemical Universe 166 8. Sound Ideas 189 9. Animal Sonar 214 10. Seeing the Light 247 11. There and Back Again: Animal Navigation 274 12. Talk to the Animals 300 Epilogue 324 Notes 328 Further Reading 358 References 362 Acknowledgments 382 Index 384 From an engineer's perspective, how do specialized adaptations among living things really work? Writing with wit and a richly informed sense of wonder, Denny and Alan offer an expert look at animals--including humans--as works of evolutionary engineering, each exquisitely adapted to a specific manner of survival