Hickman/Animal Diversity, 2/e

Preface

Students find the study of zoology both fascinating and challenging. The fascination is generated by a natural inquisitiveness toward animals. The challenge is being introduced to the vast amount of information in a general zoology text. This second edition of Animal Diversity presents a survey of the animal kingdom with emphasis on diversity, evolutionary relationships, functional adaptations, and environmental interactions. It is tailored for the restrictive requirements of a one-semester or one-quarter course and is appropriate for both non-science and science majors.

Organization and Coverage

The sixteen survey chapters, drawn from a nearly identical treatment in the seventh edition of Biology of Animals, are prefaced by discussions of the principles of evolution, animal architecture, and classification.

Chapter 1 begins with a brief explanation of the scientific method—what science is (and what it is not) and then moves to a discussion of evolutionary principles, slightly condensed from a similar treatment in Biology of Animals. Following a historical account of Charles Darwin’s life and discoveries, the five major components of Darwin’s evolutionary theory are presented, together with important challenges and revisions to his theory and an assessment of its current scientific status. This approach reflects our current understanding that Darwinism is not a single, simple statement that is easily confirmed or refuted. It also prepares the student to dismiss the arguments of creationists who misconstrue scientific challenges to Darwinism as contradictions to the validity of organic evolution. The chapter ends with explanations of micro- and macroevolution.

Chapter 2 on animal architecture is a short but important chapter that defines the organization and development of body plans distinguishing the major groups of animals. This chapter includes a picture essay of tissue types and a section explaining important developmental features associated with the evolutionary diversification of the bilateral metazoa.

Chapter 3 treats the classification and phylogeny of animals. We present a brief history of how animal diversity has been organized for systematic study, emphasizing the current use of Darwin’s theory of common descent as the major principle underlying animal taxonomy. Continuing controversies between the schools of evolutionary taxonomy and phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) are presented, including a discussion of how these alternative taxonomic philosophies affect our study of evolution. Chapter 3 also emphasizes that current issues in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology all depend on our taxonomic system.

The 16 survey chapters are a comprehensive, modern, and thoroughly researched coverage of the animal phyla. We emphasize the unifying architectural and functional theme of each group. Structure and function of representative forms are described, together with their ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary relationships. The distinctive themes and features of each group assist the student’s approach to each chapter.

New with this edition are succinct statements of "Position in the Animal Kingdom" and "Biological Contributions" at the beginning of each survey chapter. All survey chapters are updated for this edition and many new illustrations are added. Also new with this edition, are a selection of Internet web descriptions dealing with the chapter’s topics, which are found at the end of each survey chapter. The text’s web site contains chapter-sorted line Internet links for each end-of-chapter description.

The classifications in each chapter follow coverage of the particular group, in most cases immediately preceding the summary at the end of the chapter. The discussions of phylogenetic relationships are written from a cladistic viewpoint, and cladograms have been presented where possible. These show the inferred branching events in each group’s history and the origin of some of the principal shared derived characters. Traditional phylogenetic trees have been drawn to agree with cladistic analysis as closely as possible. Because cladistics is still not embraced by all teachers, we have presented cladograms as supplemental to the conventional Linnaean classifications.

Teaching and Learning Aids

Vocabulary Development

Key words are boldfaced and the derivations of generic names of animals are given where they first appear in the text. In addition, the derivations of many technical and zoological terms are provided in the text; in this way students gradually become familiar with the more common roots that recur in many technical terms. An extensive glossary provides the pronunciation, derivation, and definition of each term.

Chapter Prologues

A distinctive feature of this text is an opening essay placed in a panel at the beginning of each chapter. Each essay presents a theme or topic relating to the subject of the chapter. Some present biological, particularly evolutionary, principles; others illuminate distinguishing characteristics of the group treated in the chapter. Each is intended to present an important concept drawn from the chapter in an interesting manner that will facilitate learning by students, as well as engage their interest and pique their curiosity.

Boxed Notes

Boxed notes, which appear throughout the book, augment the text material and offer interesting sidelights without interrupting the narrative.

For Review

Each chapter ends with a concise summary, a list of review questions, and annotated selected references. The review questions enable students to test themselves for retention and understanding of the more important chapter material.

Art Program

The appearance and usefulness of this text are much enhanced by numerous full-color paintings by William C. Ober and Claire W. Garrison. Bill’s artistic skills, knowledge of biology, and experience gained from an earlier career as a practicing physician have enriched the authors’ other zoology texts through several editions. Claire practiced pediatric and obstetric nursing before turning to scientific illustration as a full-time career. Texts illustrated by Bill and Claire have received national recognition and won awards from the Association of Medical Illustrators, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Chicago Book Clinic, Printing Industries of America, and Bookbuilders West. Bill and Claire also are recipients of the Art Directors Award.

Internet Links

At the end of each survey chapter is a selection of web pages and their internet links dealing with the chapter’s topics. The hot links for the pages are found on the text's web site at http://www.mhhe.com/zoology.

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