Cover -- Contents -- 1. Introduction -- Why study evolution? -- The map of evolution -- Pillars of evolution -- 2. Mechanics -- Overview -- Introduction: the scale of mechanism -- Random change -- Systematic change -- Quantitative inheritance: a full understanding of mechanics must include an assessment of polygenic traits -- Interactions among genes and traits: trade-offs and constraints shackle adaptive evolution -- Plasticity: malleable responses are adaptive solutions to varying environments -- A challenge to the genetical theory of adaptive evolution: can developmental and behavioural plasticity force genes to follow traits? -- Mechanics of population growth and decline -- The limits of mechanics: mechanics, though essential, is an insufficient explanation for evolution -- Reflection -- 3. Function -- Overview -- Introduction: where traits meet the environment -- The fitness-mapping function -- Fitness sets and the fitness-generating function -- The adaptive function -- Mappings -- Multiple traits -- Optimal trait values -- Reflection -- 4. Structure -- Overview -- Introduction: mapping traits onto fitness -- Traits and function -- Traits, states, and strategies -- Optimization -- Constraints and reinforcement -- Structure at different scales -- The structure matrix -- Where traits fail to map onto function -- Reflection -- 5. Scale -- Overview -- Introduction: backward-looking adaptation -- Shortcuts in modelling evolution -- Size and allometry -- Grain: how the scale of environment influences evolution -- Multi-level adaptation -- Prescriptions: avoiding the fallacies of simplicity and complexity -- Reflection -- 6. Dynamics -- Overview -- Introduction -- Growth and decline -- Density dependence and demography -- Adaptive dynamics and the G-function -- The adaptive landscape -- Evolutionary branching -- Red Queen dynamics.

Spatial dynamics -- Bet-hedging -- Trophic interactions -- Reflection -- 7. Adaptation -- Overview -- Introduction: explanations for life -- The possible, the ephemeral, and the feasible -- Epiphenomena: where are the trees? -- Maladaptation: lost expectations or promised success? -- Reflection: the thread of evolution -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W.