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Overview
Covering both the internal and external incubation of offspring, this book provides a biology-rich survey of the natural history, ecology, genetics, and evolution of pregnancy-like phenomena. From mammals and other live-bearing organisms to viviparous reptiles, male-pregnant fishes, larval-brooding worms, crabs, sea cucumbers, and corals, the world's various species display pregnancy and other forms of parental devotion in surprisingly multifaceted ways. An adult female (or male) can incubate its offspring in a womb, stomach, mouth, vocal sac, gill chamber, epithelial pouch, backpack, leg pocket, nest, or an encasing of embryos, and by studying these diverse examples from a comparative vantage point, the ecological and evolutionary-genetic outcomes of different reproductive models become fascinatingly clear.
John C. Avise discusses each mode of pregnancy and the decipherable genetic signatures it has left on the reproductive structures, physiologies, and innate sexual behaviors of extant species. By considering the many biological aspects of gestation from different evolutionary angles, Avise offers captivating new insights into the significance of "heavy" parental investment in progeny.
Columbia University Press
Editorials
Adam Jones
John C. Avise, one of the greatest naturalists and evolutionary biologists of the modern era, takes us on a fascinating journey through the amazing diversity of pregnancy-related phenomena in the natural world. His engaging prose is punctuated by wonderful illustrations and startling factoids. Throughout, he weaves an evolutionary backstory and produces a comprehensive survey of reproductive modes in a vast array of organisms. The result is a book that should be high on the reading list of anyone interested in reproductive biology or the evolution of parental care.
Francisco J. Ayala
Evolutionary Perspectives on Pregnancy is chock-full of surprises. In addition to pregnant mammals, you will find pregnant fishes and reptiles, mollusks and sea urchins, and even worms and insects. You will find pregnant males as well. I don't know of any other book where one could find all this remarkable information, biologically significant and evolution-enlightening. Delightful and informative tidbits from mythology, literature, and history appear on virtually every page.
David Reznick
Avise distills an enormous body of research into a lucid presentation of two themes. One is the remarkably diverse natural history of pregnancy, which includes oddities like male pregnancy in seahorses or mother frogs that incubate tadpoles in their stomachs, thus equating regurgitation with birth. The second is the current scientific thinking for the evolution of this diversity. Avise emphasizes that pregnancy is not the product of an adaptive, harmonious relationship between mother and offspring; it is instead shaped by conflicts between fathers, mothers, and offspring.