On the Wings of Checkersopts: A Model System for Population Biology, by Ehrlich, Paul R and Ilkka Hanski [Editors]
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On the Wings of Checkersopts: A Model System for Population Biology, by Ehrlich, Paul R and Ilkka Hanski [Editors]. Oxford University Press: New York, 2004. Edition: First edition. ISBN: 019515827X. Hardcover, 4to, 7.25 by 10.25 inches, 371 pages. Dark green boards with silver lettering on spine. Illustrated with sixteen plates (8 leaves) of full color photographs and numerous black and white charts, graphs, maps, photographs and drawings throughout the text. Includes and extensive bibliography and an Index.

Condition: As New.

Contents: From the jacket

Checkerspot butterflies have been used as an extraordinarily successful model system for more than four decades. This volume presents the first synthesis of the broad range of studies of that system as conducted in Ehrlich's research group in Stanford, in Hanski's research group in Helsinki, and elsewhere....

This volume covers an overview of the taxonomy and ecology of checkerspot butterflies; population structure and dynamics of the two focal species and comparisons with other species; reproductive biology; larval biology; natural enemies; dispersal behavior; evolutionary metapopulation dynamics; genetics; implications for conducting research on model systems in populations biology; and messages for conservation.

The jacket goes on to quote reviewers of the book:

Populations and species are the units of population biology. Because there is no possibility that biologists can study all the millions of existing species before they go extinct, a few long term field studies of populations have been disproportionately influential -- such as the famous studies of Gombe chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, Galapagos finches, and British robins. Here, for the first time, is such a study for invertebrates: checkerspot butterfly populations in North America and Finland. Not surprisingly, butterfly biology proves to differ from chimpanzee and bird biology, in ways that may make these checkerspots better models for many other invertebrates. In addition, one can learn from butterflies by doing things to them that would be impossible, illegal, or immoral to do to chimpanzees, such as picking them up, carrying them around, and removing individuals from the population. This great book, beautifully summarizing the integrated efforts of 15 biologists in over 40 years of intensive field and laboratory studies, will become one of the classics of modern biology. (Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize winner, Professor of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles)

Butterflies inspire us, and appreciating them has brought many people into science. How they have affected, and continue to affect, that science is brilliantly illuminated here. Checkerspot butterflies include the best known populations of any invertebrates, and have contributed in many ways to our understanding. This book should be on the shelf of every ecologist or evolutionist! (Peter H. Raven. Director, Missouri Botanical Garden)