Short description:

Designed to help students understand the multiple levels at which human populations respond to their surroundings, this essential text offers the most complete discussion of environmental, physiological, behavioral, and cultural adaptive strategies available.

Long description:

Designed to help students understand the multiple levels at which human populations respond to their surroundings, this essential text offers the most complete discussion of environmental, physiological, behavioral, and cultural adaptive strategies available. Among the unique features that make Human Adaptability outstanding as both a textbook for students and a reference book for professionals are a complete discussion of the development of ecological anthropology and relevant research methods; the use of an ecosystem approach with emphasis on arctic, high altitude, arid land, grassland, tropical rain forest, and urban environments; an extensive and updated bibliography on ecological anthropology; and a comprehensive glossary of technical terms.

- There is enhanced emphasis throughout on the role of gender in human adaptability research and on global environmental change as it affects particular ecosystems.

- Students are guided to websites that provide access to relevant material, complement the text's coverage of biomes, and suggest ways to become active in environmental issues.

- The fourth edition includes updated material on climate change and environmental policy.

This book is essential reading for students undertaking courses in environmental anthropology and human ecology.

"Moran draws on his extensive knowledge of several disciplines and his wide-ranging field experience to offer a clear, and accessible account of human interactions with natural ecosystems. He provides an understanding of human adaptability that will be of interest to students, to professionals, and to the broad reading public that is concerned with human adaptation to global environmental change."

Benjamin Orlove, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California at Davis

"Rich in information ? Eminently suitable as a text for courses in human ecology from either the biological or anthropological viewpoint."

BioScience

"Solid scholarship ? a well-written book that should be read by anyone with interests in this diverse field, students and professionals alike."

Annals of Human Biology

"One of the clearest statements to date of the systems approach in ecological anthropology ? Superb."

Reviews in Anthropology

Table of Contents:

Part One

Environmental Anthropology

History, Theory, and Method

1 People in Ecosystems

2 Theories of Human-Habitat Interaction

3 Fundamental Concepts and Methods

4 Environmental Change and Spatial Analysis

Part Two

Studies of Human Adaptability

5 Human Adaptability to Arctic Zones

6 Human Adaptability to High Altitudes

7 Human Adaptability to Arid Lands

8 Human Adaptability to Grasslands

9 Human Adaptability to the Humid Tropics

Part Three??

Urban Sustainability and New Directions in Human Adaptability

10 Urban Ecology and Urban Sustainability

11 New Directions in Human Adaptability Research

Glossary