Comparative Animal Physiology: Form, Function, and Adaptation

From microbes to giraffes—this streamlined guide delivers the knowledge and insights you need to ace any course in animal physiology 

Organized around bodily function rather than body systems, Comparative Animal Physiology is the perfect complement to or replacement of existing texts. Covering all taxa, the book directs you to the concepts you need to understand to truly grasp the spectrum of systems levels. 

Comparative Animal Physiology begins with thorough coverage of what physiology is—including topics such as homeostasis, Ohm’s Law, and biophysics of cells—then applies these concepts to all systems. It also addresses the body’s existence within an environment, explaining how these principles relate to an organism’s quest for survival, such as feeding, digestion, gas transport, and respiration. Evolutionary principles are treated as part of the survival concept, and a strong emphasis is placed on the nervous system, as this is the driving force behind every physiological system.

Concepts are reinforced using clear and memorable examples, such as a giraffe body to illustrate blood pressure or a goose migrating over Mt. Everest to illustrate respiration.