New Releases by Edward O. Wilson

"E.O. Wilson, one of the most celebrated scientists in the United States, shows why biodiversity is vital to the future of Earth and to our own species through the story of an African national park that may be the most diverse place on Earth, in a gorgeously illustrated book"--

A meeting of great minds at the intersection of the arts and sciences “Enchanting. . . . The Poetic Species is a wonderful read in its entirety, short yet infinitely simulating.” —Maria Popova, Marginalian In this shimmering conversation, Edward O. Wilson, renowned scientist and proponent of “consilience” or the unity of knowledge, finds an ardent interlocutor in Robert Hass, whose credo as United States poet laureate was “imagination makes communities.” As they explore the many ways that poetry and science enhance each other, they travel from anthills to ancient Egypt and to the heights and depths of human potential.A testament to how science and the arts can join forces to educate and inspire, this book is also a passionate plea for conservation of all the planet’s species.

Los sabios y apasionados consejos de E.O. Wilson a las nuevas generaciones de científicos. Querido amigo: Después de medio siglo de enseñar a estudiantes y a jóvenes profesionales de la ciencia, he tenido el privilegio y la suerte de haber aconsejado a muchos cientos de jóvenes de talento y ambiciosos. Como resultado, he acumulado un conocimiento profundo, una filosofía, en realidad, de lo que es necesario saber para tener éxito en el ámbito de la ciencia. Espero que puedas sacar provecho de los pensamientos y relatos que te ofreceré a lo largo de las cartas que siguen. Ante todo, y muy importante, te exhorto a permanecer en el camino que has escogido y a seguirlo tan lejos como te sea posible. El mundo te necesita, y mucho. Edmund O. Wilson Reseñas: «Inspirador... Debería estar en las estanterías de todos los institutos y bibliotecas.» Library Journal «Quiero expresar mi agradecimiento. Gracias por recordarme, a mí y a otros miles, por qué nos convertimos en científicos.» Bill Stevens, The New York Times Book Review Edward O. Wilson aconseja a los investigadores presentes y futuros, y comparte su sabiduría con las nuevas generaciones de científicos. Lo hace a través de anécdotas autobiográficas que han forjado su carrera como científico, sus éxitos y sus fracasos, animado por la motivación que lo ha llevado a convertirse en uno de los biólogos más importantes del mundo. En este momento de la historia de la humanidad en el que nuestra supervivencia está más vinculada que nunca a los conocimientos científicos, Wilson insiste en que el talento no reside en la inteligencia matemática, sino en la pasión por plantear un problema y saber resolverlo. Desde la colisión de las estrellas hasta la exploración de los bosques tropicales y las profundidades de los océanos, Wilson infunde en sus lectores el amor por la creatividad científica y el respeto por el humilde lugar que ocupa el ser humano en el ecosistema del planeta. Un libro para científicos, jóvenes y no tan jóvenes, sobre la pasión y el placer por el descubrimiento.

Southern Wonder explores Alabama’s amazing biological diversity, the reasons for the large number of species in the state, and the importance of their preservation. Alabama ranks fifth in the nation in number of species of plants and animals found in the state, surpassed only by the much larger western states of California,Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. When all the species of birds, trees, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, wildflowers, dragonflies, tiger beetles, and ants are tallied, Alabama harbors more species than 90 percent of the other states in the United States. Alabamais particularly rich in aquatic biodiversity, leading the nation in species of freshwater fishes, turtles, mussels, crayfish, snails, damselflies, and carnivorous plants. The state also hosts an exceptional number of endemic species—those not found beyond its borders—ranking seventh in the nation with 144 species. The state’s 4,533 species, with more being inventoried and discovered each year, are supported by no less than 64 distinct ecological systems—each a unique blend of soil, water, sunlight, heat, and natural disturbance regimes. Habitats include dry forests, moist forests, swamp forests, sunny prairies, grassy barrens, scorching glades, rolling dunes, and bogs filled with pitcher plants and sundews. The state also includes a region of subterranean ecosystems that are more elaborate and species rich than any other place on the continent. Although Alabama is teeming with life, the state’s prominence as a refuge for plants and animals is poorly appreciated. Even among Alabama’s citizens, few outside a small circle of biologists, advocates, and other naturalists understand the special quality of the state’s natural heritage. R. Scot Duncan rectifies this situation in Southern Wonder by providing a well-written, comprehensive overview that the general public, policy makers, and teachers can understand and use. Readers are taken on an exploratory journey of the state’s varied landscapes—from the Tennessee River Valley to the coastal dunes—and are introduced to remarkable species, such as the cave salamander and the beach mouse. By interweaving the disciplines of ecology, evolution, meteorology, and geology into an accessible whole, Duncan explains clearly why Alabama is so biotically rich and champions efforts for its careful preservation. Published in Cooperation with The Nature Conservancy

Weaves together more than twenty letters that illuminate the author''s career and his motivations for becoming a biologist, explaining how success in the sciences depends on a passion for finding a problem and solving it.

Woher kommen wir? Was sind wir? Wohin gehen wir? Der große Biologe E. O. Wilson entschlüsselt die Evolution des Menschen Die soziale Eroberung der Erde ist die Summe lebenslanger innovativer Forschung, die Krönung des Lebenswerkes von Edward O. Wilson. Seine weitreichende These: Die soziale Gruppe und nicht das egoistische Gen war der entscheidende Faktor der Menschwerdung. "Keinem außer Edward O. Wilson konnte eine derart brillante Synthese aus Biologie und Geisteswissenschaften gelingen, die Licht wirft auf den Ursprung von Sprache, Religion, Kunst und der gesamten menschlichen Kultur." Oliver Sacks "Eine große, doch einfache Fragestellung, überzeugende Erklärungen, eine meisterhafte Beherrschung der Wissenschaft und eine anschauliche, verständliche Darstellung einmal mehr hat E.O. Wilson ein Buch geschrieben mit den Qualitäten, die ihm Pulitzerpreise und ein Millionenpublikum eingebracht haben." Jared Diamond "Ein fabelhaftes Buch." Bill Clinton

De onde viemos? O que somos? Para onde vamos? Essas perguntas fundamentais são o ponto de partida deste livro. Em busca das respostas, o autor se concentra na complexa vida social atingida por insetos como formigas, abelhas e cupins, e por pouquíssimos mamíferos - entre eles os seres humanos. Em comum, esses organismos têm um pré-requisito essencial à formação de sociedades avançadas: a necessidade de se fixar em um ninho e defendê-lo de inimigos. No caso dos seres humanos, esses ninhos são acampamentos, aldeias, cidades. O que nos permitiu chegar a uma organização social ainda mais complexa é um corpo avantajado com um cérebro grande e desenvolvido, características que possibilitaram ao homem pré-histórico dominar o fogo e se embrenhar por caminhos tecnológicos. A grande preocupação do pai da sociobiologia neste livro é elucidar os mecanismos evolutivos por trás do surgimento das gigantescas sociedades de formigas e da cultura de nossa espécie. Está aí, para ele, o cerne da natureza humana. Edward O. Wilson é um mestre em fazer grandes sínteses de ideias. É o que fez quando publicou Sociobiology, em 1975, e é o que volta a fazer agora, quando reúne ciências biológicas e humanas para rever o papel da seleção de parentesco e sustentar a área de pesquisa que ele mesmo liderou. Seja para entender como a seleção natural sobre o desempenho de grupos pode influenciar a evolução social de uma espécie, para discordar ou contribuir nos rumos propostos pelo autor, este livro é leitura essencial. E, quem sabe, esteja na origem de uma linha de pensamento em ascensão.

O papa da biodiversidade traça um abrangente e apaixonado painel da alarmante situação da ecologia no mundo de hoje, propondo soluções. Reconhecido no mundo todo como o papa da biodiversidade, Wilson analisa aqui os processos adaptativos responsáveis pela criação de novas espécies e descreve os cataclismos que interromperam a evolução e empobreceram a diversidade nos últimos seiscentos milhões de anos. Os cinco primeiros desastres ecológicos (tais como meteoritos e mudanças climáticas) custaram à evolução entre dez e cem milhões de anos de reparação. Já o sexto grande espasmo de extinção na Terra, desta vez inteiramente causado pelo homem, pode não ter conserto. Wilson aponta fortes indícios de que o planeta caminha para um grave e talvez irreversível processo de degradação ambiental: declínio da população de pássaros nos Estados Unidos, extinção de espécies de peixes de água doce na África e na Ásia, drástica redução de flora e fauna nas regiões tropicais desmatadas. As saídas que o autor propõe são complexas, à altura do problema, mas factíveis, e passam por conciliar produção, lucro e proteção ambiental. Desafiadoras, elas permitem que a consciência ecológica e as práticas sociais alcancem novo patamar, tanto nos estudos quanto nas atitudes individuais e políticas de preservação do meio ambiente.

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.

Una obra revolucionaria, la historia de la evolución humana y animal más importante desde El origen de las especies de Darwin, por el más insigne de sus sucesores. ¿De dónde venimos? ¿Qué somos? ¿Adónde vamos? En una obra apasionante que culmina el trabajo de toda una vida, Edward O. Wilson plantea estas tres cuestiones fundamentales y demuestra que la religión, la filosofía y la reflexión no pueden dar respuestas por sí solas, y que la única forma realista de resolver el enigma de nuestra condición humana pasa por la erudición científica. El más insigne sucesor de Darwin rediseña la historia de la evolución y recurre a su vasto conocimiento de la biología y del comportamiento social para revelar cómo la «selección de grupo» puede ser el único modelo que explique el origen del hombre, su dominación y su posterior conquista del planeta. La crítica ha dicho... «Una explicación de gran envergadura acerca del ascenso humano a la dominación de la biosfera, redondeada con extensas reflexiones sobre el arte, la ética, la lengua y la religión.» The New York Times

Cette collection a pour vocation de mettre le vivant au cœur d’éclairages ou de rêveries transdisciplinaires de tous les temps : éthologues, philosophes, zoologues, ethnologues, systématiciens, folkloristes, naturalistes, explorateurs et créateurs (romanciers, poètes, illustrateurs) pourront s’y rencontrer dans le buisson foisonnant des espèces dont le devenir est l’un des enjeux majeurs de la nôtre. Biophilia est emprunté au titre éponyme de Edward O. Wilson qui inaugure donc tout naturellement la collection. (Fabienne Raphoz)

New York Times Bestseller and Notable Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Book of the Year (Nonfiction) Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence (Nonfiction) From the most celebrated heir to Darwin comes a groundbreaking book on evolution, the summa work of Edward O. Wilson''s legendary career. Sparking vigorous debate in the sciences, The Social Conquest of Earth upends “the famous theory that evolution naturally encourages creatures to put family first” (Discover). Refashioning the story of human evolution, Wilson draws on his remarkable knowledge of biology and social behavior to demonstrate that group selection, not kin selection, is the premier driving force of human evolution. In a work that James D. Watson calls “a monumental exploration of the biological origins of the human condition,” Wilson explains how our innate drive to belong to a group is both a “great blessing and a terrible curse” (Smithsonian). Demonstrating that the sources of morality, religion, and the creative arts are fundamentally biological in nature, the renowned Harvard University biologist presents us with the clearest explanation ever produced as to the origin of the human condition and why it resulted in our domination of the Earth’s biosphere.

Parmi toutes les espèces de fourmis, il en est une qui, durant des centaines de millions d’années, a connu un extraordinaire succès évolutif : les fourmis coupeuses de feuilles, à l’origine des premières « sociétés agricoles », et ce bien avant l’homme de l’époque néolithique. S’appuyant sur une très riche iconographie et sur les études les plus récentes, ce livre décrit l’éclosion et le développement de leur exceptionnelle civilisation instinctuelle : communication, coopération, division du travail, mutualisme, défense, solidarité, hiérarchie, sacrifice, hygiène... Ces fourmis d’Amérique tropicale, dont les colonies jouent un rôle fondamental dans l’écologie des forêts, des savanes et des prairies, sont le plus remarquable de tous les superorganismes jamais découverts. Des vols nuptiaux au décès de la reine, du travail de ses millions de descendantes à la culture de leur champignon nourricier, du chef-d’oeuvre architectural de leur nid au million de neurones de leur cerveau formidablement structuré, tout chez ces fourmis champignonnistes provoque l’émerveillement.

The book that launched a movement: “Wilson speaks with a humane eloquence which calls to us all” (Oliver Sacks). Called “one of the greatest men alive” by The Times of London, E. O. Wilson proposes an historic partnership between scientists and religious leaders to preserve Earth’s rapidly vanishing biodiversity.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of The Ants comes this dynamic and visually spectacular portrait of Earth''s ultimate superorganism. The Leafcutter Ants is the most detailed and authoritative description of any ant species ever produced. With a text suitable for both a lay and a scientific audience, the book provides an unforgettable tour of Earth''s most evolved animal societies. Each colony of leafcutters contains as many as five million workers, all the daughters of a single queen that can live over a decade. A gigantic nest can stretch thirty feet across, rise five feet or more above the ground, and consist of hundreds of chambers that reach twenty-five feet below the ground surface. Indeed, the leafcutters have parlayed their instinctive civilization into a virtual domination of forest, grassland, and cropland—from Louisiana to Patagonia. Inspired by a section of the authors'' acclaimed The Superorganism, this brilliantly illustrated work provides the ultimate explanation of what a social order with a half-billion years of animal evolution has achieved.

One of the earliest New World naturalists, José Celestino Mutis began his professional life as a physician in Spain and ended it as a scientist and natural philosopher in modern-day Colombia. Drawing on new translations of Mutis''s nearly forgotten writings, this fascinating story of scientific adventure in eighteenth-century South America retrieves Mutis''s contributions from obscurity. In 1760, the 28-year-old Mutis—newly appointed as the personal physician of the Viceroy of the New Kingdom of Granada—embarked on a 48-year exploration of the natural world of northern South America. His thirst for knowledge led Mutis to study the region''s flora, become a professor of mathematics, construct the first astronomical observatory in the Western Hemisphere, and amass one of the largest scientific libraries in the world. He translated Newton''s writings and penned essays about Copernicus; lectured extensively on astronomy, geography, and meteorology; and eventually became a priest. But, as two-time Pulitzer Prize–winner Edward O. Wilson and Spanish natural history scholar José M. Gómez Durán reveal in this enjoyable and illustrative account, one of Mutis''s most magnificent accomplishments involved ants. Acting at the urging of Carl Linnaeus—the father of taxonomy—shortly after he arrived in the New Kingdom of Granada, Mutis began studying the ants that swarmed everywhere. Though he lacked any entomological training, Mutis built his own classification for the species he found and named at a time when New World entomology was largely nonexistent. His unorthodox catalog of army ants, leafcutters, and other six-legged creatures found along the banks of the Magdalena provided a starting point for future study. Wilson and Durán weave a compelling, fast-paced story of ants on the march and the eighteenth-century scientist who followed them. A unique glance into the early world of science exploration, Kingdom of Ants is a delight to read and filled with intriguing information.

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

A Criação é um apelo para que deixemos o embate entre religião e ciência de lado para podermos salvar a vida no planeta, que nunca esteve tão ameaçada. VAlendo-se de suas experiências como um dos biólogos mais destacados no cenário mundial, Edward O. WIlson prevê que, até o final do século, pelo menos a metade das espécies de plantas e animais da Terra poderá ter desaparecido, ou estará a caminho da extinção precoce. Escrito em forma de carta a um pastor evangélico, A Criação demonstra que a ciência e a religião não precisam ser, necessariamente, antagonistas em guerra. AO fornecer explicações a respeito dos motivos ambientais e espirituais para nos alarmarmos com a poluição, o aquecimento global e o rápido declínio da diversidade biológica do planeta, Wilson sugere que, se ciência e religião usarem de seu poder para forjar uma aliança fundamentada no respeito mútuo, relevando as diferenças metafísicas básicas e buscando alcançar objetivos práticos, alguns dos mais graves problemas do século XXI poderão ser resolvidos rapidamente. "E. O. WIlson, talvez o maior biólogo da nossa geração, traz uma vida inteira de trabalho e de reflexão para esta obra. [...] É um de seus livros mais perturbadores, mais comoventes e mais importantes." - Oliver Sacks

Edward O. Wilson -- University Professor at Harvard, winner of two Pulitzer prizes, eloquent champion of biodiversity -- is arguably one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. His career represents both a blueprint and a challenge to those who seek to explore the frontiers of scientific understanding. Yet, until now, little has been told of his life and of the important events that have shaped his thought.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 mans''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 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.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson is one of the leading biologists and philosophical thinkers of our time. In this compelling collection, Wilson''s observations range from the tiny glands of ants to the nature of the living universe. Many of the pieces are considered landmarks in evolutionary biology, ecology, and behavioral biology. Wilson explores topics as diverse as slavery in ants, the genetic basis of societal structure, the discovery of the taxon cycle, the original formulation of the theory of island biogeography, a critique of subspecies as a unit of classification, and the conservation of life''s diversity. Each article is presented in its original form, dating from Wilson''s first published article in 1949 to his most recent exploration of the natural world. Preceding each piece is a brief essay by Wilson that explains the context in which the article was written and provides insights into the scientist himself and the debates of the time. This collection enables us to share Wilson''s various vantage points and to view the complexities of nature through his eyes. Wilson aficionados, along with readers discovering his work for the first time, will find in this collection a world of beauty, complexity, and challenge.

CD-ROM contains high resolution digital images of most of the type species.

本书主要内容包括:困境;遗传;发育;形成;攻击性;性;利他行为;宗教等9章。