The Terrestrial Invasion
An Ecophysiological Approach to the Origins of Land Animals

The theme of this book is the invasion of land by animal lines which originated in aquatic environments.

Colin Little (Author)

9780521336697, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 June 1990

316 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.47 kg

The theme of this book is the invasion of land by animal lines which originated in aquatic environments. It brings together physiological and ecological evidence to show both the likely routes taken out of the sea by the aquatic ancestors of terrestrial animals and the changes in structure and function associated with these routes. The author takes an ecophysiological approach, and by using representative examples, provides a novel background against which both the terrestrial adaptations of individual species and the make up and function of terrestrial ecosystems can be considered. Dr Little is the author of the highly acclaimed book The Colonisation of Land, which discusses the phylogeny and physiology of terrestrial and semi-terrestrial animals. The Terrestrial Invasion takes a fresh approach and provides an excellent introduction to the origins of land animals suitable for ecologists, physiologists and evolutionary biologists.

Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Perspective
2. Problems: terrestrial versus aquatic habitats
3. The evidence
Part II. Routes on to Land: 4. The origins of terrestrial animals in relation to salt and water balance
5. Muddy and sandy shores: interstitial fauna and the burrowers
6. Saltmarshes and mangrove swamps as routes on to land
7. Rocky and shingle shores as routes on to land
8. The freshwater route to land
Part III. Life on Land: 9. Terrestrial adaptations
10. Terrestrial ecosystems.

Subject Areas: Palaeontology [RBX], Evolution [PSAJ], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]