Edward O. Wilson Knihy

Tato učebnice základů biologie vyšších hierarchických úrovní (od organizmu až po biosféru) představuje čtenáři základní principy systematické biologie, biogeografie, evoluční teorie a ekologie populací a společenstev, a to v poměrně širokém rozsahu: od popisu osídlování ostrovů i kontinentů přes výklad teorie druhu a specie, základů populační genetiky, vzniku a vývoje společenstev, základních ekologických interakcí, až po zamyšlení se nad mechanizmy udržujícími diverzitu a nad diverzitou živé přírody jako takovou. Velká pozornost je mimo jiné věnována tematice makroevoluce, tj. adaptivní radiaci, hromadnému (i méně hromadnému) vymírání a historii života na Zemi. Všechna témata jsou přitom pojednána zcela moderně, výklad vychází ze znalosti nejnovějších teorií a zároveň z hluboké zkušenosti s živou přírodou a je ilustrován vynikajícími příklady. Přes značnou šíři záběru je text neobvykle koncizní a jednotlivé kapitoly jsou organicky propojeny. V druhé části knihy Wilson věcně popisuje současný úbytek rozmanitosti na různých organizačních úrovních a stejně věcně se zamýšlí nad možnostmi řešení těchto problémů.

Mravenci se na Zemi objevili před stem milionů let, v době velkých dinosaurů, a rychle se rozšířili po celém světě. Vytvořili obrovské množství druhů, které dnes dosahuje desítek tisíc. Autoři knihy, světoznámí vědci a držitelé Pulitzerovy ceny za dílo o mravencích, se snaží populární formou vysvětlit, proč jsou mravenci v říši živočichů tak obdivuhodně úspěšní. Důvodem je rychle využitelná a ohromná síla vyrůstající ze spolupráce v kolonii. Tato účinná spolupráce je umožněna rozvinutou chemickou komunikací: uvolnění směsi látek z různých částí těla probouzí v ostatních členech kolonie potřebu bránit se i napadat nepřítele, ošetřovat potomstvo a shánět potravu. Kniha je fascinujícím pohledem do života těchto tajemných malých tvorů, který autoři často přirovnávají k životu lidské populace. Je určena jak odborníkům, tak širokému okruhu zájemců o přírodu.

O nezbytnosti sjednocení přírodních a humanitních věd. Neschopnost vzájemného pochopení exaktních věd a humanitních oborů může mít pro svět fatální následky. Je tato nedokonalost vrozenou indolencí nebo nabytou předností? Autor je přesvědčeným zastáncem koevoluce genů a kultury.

Podtitul: „Máme svobodnou vůli, nebo je naše chování řízeno genetickým kódem?“

Evoluce a náš vnitřní konflikt. Edward Osborne Wilson je jedním z nejuznávanějších biologů dneška, pro svou průkopnickou práci bývá často nazýván „otec sociobiologie“ nebo „otec biodiverzity“ a mezi biology je znám jako největší znalec života společenství mravenců. Ve své dosud nejfilozofičtější knize Smysl lidské existence se však obrací k lidským otázkám jako „Odkud pocházíme?“, „Proč existujeme na této planetě?“ nebo „Kam a proč kráčíme?“. Kdysi se mu vyčítalo, že o lidském druhu píše poněkud mechanisticky a příliš se spoléhá na genetickou předurčenost. Možná proto se ve své nové knize zahloubal nad jedinečností lidského života a nad tím, že přestože nás i pavouky utvářel stejný evoluční proces, básníkův sonet se přeci jen fundamentálně liší od pavučiny. Ať už píše o tajemství lidského druhu, svobodné vůli, náboženství, kolapsu biodiverzity, či dokonce věrohodném portrétu mimozemské civilizace, vždy věří, že lidstvo má ve vesmíru skutečně výjimečné místo.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of "The Ants" render the extraordinary lives of the social insects--ants, bees, wasps, and termites--in this visually spectacular volume. 110 color and 100 black-and-white illustrations.

This collected edition features the works of a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and esteemed biologist, showcasing the wonders of biodiversity amidst the urgent challenges of climate change and mass extinction. It offers profound insights into the intricate relationships within ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of preserving the planet's diverse life forms.

In Naturalist, Wilson describes for the first time both his growth as a scientist and the evolution of the science he has helped define. He traces the trajectory of his life - from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida to life as a tenured professor at Harvard - detailing how his youthful fascination with nature blossomed into a lifelong calling. He recounts with drama and wit the adventures of his days as a student at the University of Alabama and his four decades at Harvard University, where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher. As the narrative of Wilson's life unfolds, the reader is treated to an inside look at the origin and development of ideas that guide today's biological research. Theories that are now widely accepted in the scientific world were once untested hypotheses emerging from one man's broad-gauged studies. Throughout Naturalist, we see Wilson's mind and energies constantly striving to help establish many of the central principles of the field of evolutionary biology. The story of Edward O. Wilson's life provides fascinating insights into the making of a scientist and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking ideas of our time.

The eminent biologist reflects on his own response to nature and the aesthetic aspects of his exploration of natural systems in an intensely personal essay that examines the essential links between mankind and the rest of the living world.

William Catesby - the suave, cynical spy with a conscience - returns in a mission that will take him from the docks of Marseille to the highlands of Laos

"An evolutionary event" wrote John Pfeiffer in the New York Times Book Review when Sociobiology was published in 1975, "announcing for all who can hear that we are on the verge of breakthroughs in the effort to understand our place in the scheme of things." Praised by many and damned by some, Sociobiology provided the framework for a new science--the study of the biological basis for social behavior in every species, from the lowliest amoeba colony to modern human society. In this abridged edition, Edward O. Wilson trims his monumental work to its essential argument and most compelling examples. He retains the full basic structure of the original book, while eliminating the technical discussions and data summaries. Because of the unusual amount of interest and commentary it has generated, the final chapter on human social behavior remains virtually intact. The book has been completely reset to accommodate a convenient 8 1/2 x 11 format, and Sarah Landry's superb drawings of animal societies still accompany the text. New students and general readers can discover for themselves what sociobiology is all about and why there is so much furor surrounding it.

In his new Preface E.O. Wilson reflects on how he came to write this book: how The Insect Societies led him to write Sociobiology, and how the political and religious uproar that engulfed that book persuaded him to write another book that would better explain the relevance of biology to the understanding of human behavior.

A brilliant, eye-opening espionage thriller by a former special forces officer 'now at the forefront of spy writing'

A brilliant Cuban Missile Crisis spy thriller by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

Harvard Professor and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Wilson takes readers through time--tracing the processes that create new species, the five cataclysmic events that have disrupted evolution over the past 600 million years, and how humans are destroying diversity at a projected rate of 20 percent over the next 30 years.

Our world is far richer than previously conceived, yet so ravaged by human activity that half its species could be gone by the end of the present century. These two contrasting themes--unexpected magnificence and underestimated peril--have originated during the past two decades of research. In this timely and important new book, one of our greatest living scientists describes exactly what treasures of the natural world we are about to lose forever and what we can do right now to save them. Destruction of natural habitats, the rampant spread of invasive species, pollution, uncontrolled population growth and overharvesting are the main threats to our natural world. Wilson explains how each of these elements works to undo the web of life that supports us, and why it is in our best interests to stop it. THE FUTURE OF LIFE is a magisterial accomplishment - both a moving description of the world's astonishing animals and plants and a guidebook for the protection of all its species, including our own.

A gripping espionage thriller about an establishment plot to take control of 1970s Britain, by a writer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

"Summary Edward O. Wilson recalls his lifetime with ants-from his first boyhood encounters in the woods of Alabama to perilous journeys into the Brazilian rainforest." Ants are the most warlike of all animals, with colony pitted against colony. ... Their clashes dwarf Waterloo and Gettysburg," writes Edward O. Wilson in his most finely observed work in decades. In a myrmecological tour to such far-flung destinations as Mozambique and New Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico's Dauphin Island and even his parents' overgrown yard back in Alabama, Wilson thrillingly evokes his nine-decade-long scientific obsession with more than 15,000 ant species. Wryly observing that "males are little more than flying sperm missiles" or that ants send their "little old ladies into battle," Wilson eloquently relays his brushes with fire, army, and leafcutter ants, as well as more exotic species: the Matabele, Africa's fiercest warrior ants; Costa Rica's Basiceros, the slowest ants in the world; and New Caledonia's Myrmecia apicalis, the most endangered of them all. A personal account by one of our greatest scientists, Tales from the Ant World is an indispensable volume for any lover of the natural world"-- Provided by publisher

In a generational work of clarity and passion, one of the greatest living scientists directly addresses these three fundamental questions of religion, philosophy, and science. Includes 90 illustrations.

An enormous intellectual adventure, this groundbreaking new book showcases Wilson's argument for what he calls consilience--the proof that everything in our world is organized by a small number of fundamental natural laws that comprise the principles governing every branch of learning.

The worlds greatest naturalist (Jeffrey Sachs) proposes a plan to save Earths imperiled biosphere.

Asserting that religious creeds and philosophical questions can be reduced to purely genetic and evolutionary components, and that the human body and mind have a physical base obedient to the laws of physics and chemistry, Genesis demonstrates that the only way for us to understand human behaviour fully is to study the evolutionary histories of nonhuman species. Of these, Wilson demonstrates that at least seventeen -- among them the African naked mole rat and the sponge-dwelling shrimp -- have been found to have advanced societies based on altruism and cooperation. Whether writing about midges who 'dance about like acrobats' or schools of anchovies who protectively huddle 'to appear like a gigantic fish, or proposing that human society owes a debt of gratitude to 'postmenopausal grandmothers' and 'childless homosexuals', Genesis is a pithy yet pathbreaking work of evolutionary theory filled with the lyrical biological and humanistic observations for which Wilson is known.

Astonishing, inspirational, even magical: a naturalist's novel about an Alabama boy who heroically tries to save a sacred forest.

This book brings together some of Wilson's most profound and significant writings on the rich diversity of life on Earth, our place in it, and our obligation to conserve the planet's fragile ecosystems

In 1956 London, a generation of British spies grapples with the betrayal of former allies. Henry Bone, a Mandarin spymaster, discovers that "Butterfly," the ultimate prize in Cold War intelligence, is an aristocratic pervert with a penchant for identifying traitors and the spies who aided them. Catesby, a disgraced British spy, devises a plan to expose Butterfly by feigning defection. His dangerous mission takes him from Berlin to Budapest, where he navigates chaos and violence, culminating in a tense dinner with the notorious East German espionage figure, Mischa Wolf. The gripping conclusion promises to reshape perceptions of the Cold War. Critics praise the novel for its intelligent narrative and historical accuracy, highlighting its cerebral tension and depth. Readers seeking a thrilling espionage story that prioritizes intrigue over action will find much to appreciate in this meticulously crafted tale.

A thrilling SOE spy novel by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

The brilliant opening novel in the Catesby series, by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

"Reflecting on the deepest origins of language, storytelling, and art, Wilson demonstrates how creativity began not ten thousand years ago, as we have long assumed, but over one hundred thousand years ago in the Paleolithic age. Chronicling this evolution of creativity from primate ancestors to humans, The Origins of Creativity shows how the humanities, spurred on by the invention of language, have played a largely unexamined role in defining our species. And in doing so, Wilson explores what we can learn about human nature from a surprising range of creative endeavors--the instinct to create gardens, the use of metaphors and irony in speech, and the power of music and song. Our achievements in science and the humanities, Wilson notes, make us uniquely advanced as a species, but also give us the potential to be supremely dangerous, most worryingly in our abuse of the planet. The humanities in particular suffer from a kind of anthropomorphism, encumbered by a belief that we are the only species among millions that seem to matter, yet Wilson optimistically reveals how researchers will have to address this parlous situation by pushing further into the realm of science, especially fields such as evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and anthropology."-- Provided by publisher

A captivating spy thriller taking the reader from 60s sex scandals to the Vietnam War, by a former special forces officer who is 'poised to inherit the mantle of John le Carre'

This book presents a distinctive life story illustrated through watercolours, blending art with narrative. Each page offers a visual journey that enhances the emotional depth of the experiences shared, inviting readers to explore the interplay between the illustrations and the personal journey depicted. The combination of vivid imagery and storytelling provides a refreshing perspective on life's complexities and beauty.

A prestigious series of lectures that are international and intercultural, and transcend ethnic, national, religious, and ideological distinctions.

Ameisen existieren seit gut 120 Millionen Jahren. Diese von den beiden weltberühmten Experten geschriebene, reich illustrierte Naturgeschichte führt in die faszinierende Welt der Ameisen. Sie erfahren von der Artenvielfalt, von typischen Verhaltensweisen, von der effektiven Zusammenarbeit und den Verständigungsmöglichkeiten innerhalb der Kolonien und von den perfekt geplanten kämpferischen Auseinandersetzungen mit anderen Völkern. Die Autoren lassen Sie an der Spannung und dem Vergnügen teilhaben, welches sie bei ihrer Erforschung der Ameisen erlebt haben. Der Text wurde für diese deutsche Neuauflage von Bert Hölldobler auf den aktuellen Stand gebracht und umfangreich ergänzt. Zahlreiche zusätzliche neue Farbtafeln illustrieren die Welt der Ameisen noch beeindruckender. Die erste Auflage wurde 1995 von bild der wissenschaft als Wissenschaftssachbuch des Jahres ausgezeichnet. Spannendes aus der Naturgeschichte der Ameisen aus mehr als 100 gemeinsamen Forscher-Jahren.

Die Hälfte der Erdoberfläche der Natur zu überlassen - das ist die Forderung des weltberühmten Biologen Edward O. Wilson. Sein Buch ist das Testament eines großen Forschers und Schriftstellers, der wie kein anderer erkannt hat, dass der Mensch trotz aller unübersehbaren Fortschritte eine biologische Spezies bleibt, die den früheren Lebensbedingungen auf unserem Planeten besser angepasst ist als der Umwelt, die wir gerade erschaffen. Geschichte zu haben ist kein Privileg des Menschen. Und dennoch ignorieren wir die Geschichten von Millionen anderen Arten, die durch unser Verhalten vom Aussterben bedroht sind. Wilson ist davon überzeugt, dass wir nur dann den lebendigen Anteil unserer Umwelt retten und die für unser eigenes Überleben nötige Stabilität herstellen können, wenn wir den halben Planeten zum Naturschutzgebiet erklären. Wenn die Menschheit sich nicht sehr viel mehr Wissen über die globale Lebensvielfalt aneignet und sich nicht schnell dazu entschließt, sie zu schützen, dann werden wir schon bald die meisten Arten, in denen sich das Leben auf der Erde manifestiert, unwiederbringlich verlieren.

Anthill narra le avventure di un moderno Huckleberry Finn, Raff Cody. I1 suo amore pazzo, improbabile e più forte di ogni ostacolo per le formiche e il regno naturale a cui appartengono trasformerà per sempre la vita del ragazzo e quella degli abitanti di Nokobee County, una magnifica riserva naturale insidiata dalle speculazioni edilizie e da affaristi senza scrupoli. Parallela alle avventure di Raff, scorre epica e potente la saga di alcune colonie di formiche della stessa riserva di Nokobee, vera e propria epopea di guerre, conquiste, creazione e distruzione, alla quale il giovane assiste affascinato e meravigliato. Edward O. Wilson, due volte Premio Pulitzer per la propria opera scientifica, in questo suo primo magnifico romanzo ci racconta l'insolita storia di un ragazzo coraggioso e idealista che cresce determinato a salvare il mondo dal suo nemico più grande: l'Uomo.

W Opowieściach ze świata mrówek dwukrotny zdobywca Nagrody Pulitzera zabiera nas w podróż do tak odległych miejsc, jak Mozambik i Nowa Gwinea, wyspa Dauphin w Zatoce Meksykańskiej, a nawet zarośnięte podwórko jego rodziców, z pasją opowiadając o swojej trwającej od lat obsesji na punkcie ponad 15 000 gatunków mrówek. Wilson wzbogaca swoje naukowe obserwacje wspaniałymi historiami, które doskonale ilustrują, w jaki sposób mrówki „mówią”, węszą i smakują, a także walczą o dominację. Opisuje bardzo rzadkie gatunki, takie jak Matabele, najbardziej zaciekłe mrówki wojownicze Afryki, których łowczynie mogą nosić w szczęce do piętnastu termitów; „mrówki żniwiarki”, które, gdy dochodzi do konfrontacji z mrówkami ognistymi, uwalniają chmurę alarmowych feromonów, aby wezwać na pomoc swoich współtowarzyszy; czy Basiceros, najwolniejsze i najbrudniejsze mrówki ze wszystkich, które pokrywają swoje ciała kurzem i śmieciami dla kamuflażu. Opowieści ze świata mrówek to obowiązkowa lektura dla każdego miłośnika przyrody.

Verhalen over biologische onderwerpen met als rode draad een evolutionaire kijk op gedrag van mens en dier.

1973 168 S., 21 cm Softcover, Berlin [u.a.] : Springer,

Blattschneiderameisen herrschen über Wälder, Wiesen und Ackerland – von Louisiana bis Patagonien. Jede Ameisen-Kolonie umfasst fast fünf Millionen Arbeiterinnen, alles Töchter einer einzigen Königin. Ihr Nest kann sich auf eine Länge von bis zu knapp 10 Meter erstrecken, bestehend aus Hunderten von Kammern. Das weltberühmte Autorenduo liefert mit dem Band die detaillierteste Beschreibung einer Ameisenspezies, die es je gab. Das mit exzellenten Fotos versehene Werk wendet sich sowohl an gebildete Laien als auch an ein wissenschaftliches Publikum.