Title: Evolutionary Biology of Parasites
Author: Peter Price
Publisher & Year: Princeton University Press, 1980
List ... Continue reading →]]> Book Review of Peter Price’s Monograph in Population Biology

For students of science interested in how parasites came to be, this 15th Monograph in Robert May’s Population Biology Series, originally published in 1980, is an interesting and informative must-have classic.

How Did Parasites Evolve?

Unless you are a parasitologist, you may not devote a great deal of time to thinking about the parasitic way of life. But it is an interesting evolutionary question. What combination of genetics and selective pressures are in play that ultimately results in the evolution of an organism that is entirely dependent on a host for its own survival. How did these biological free-loaders evolve?

What Exactly Is a Parasite?

Experts even quibble about what constitutes a parasite, and there are many definitions.

The introduction of the book is devoted to sorting out what a parasite is and focusing the reader on the topic of the book, the evolutionary biology of the parasitic life style.

Why a Book on Evolution of Parasites?

When the book was written in the 1980′s, Price believed that biology had not given sufficient attention to the evolutionary pressures that have selected for parasitism, explaining that, “Ecology and evolutionary principles should address such spectacular speciation and provide the basis for an understanding of the mechanisms involved. I do not think that a coherent body of theory exists for the evolutionary biology of parasitic organisms.”

Since this observation, the ecology and evolution of parasites received additional attention from Price, his students and other scientists interested in the evolution of organisms that make a living through exploitation. This book, Evolutionary Biology of Parasites, is a classic that laid the groundwork for future research and increased understanding.

About Peter W. Price

Dr. Price is currently Regents’ Professor Emeritus in Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University. He has authored numerous scientific articles and books, his most recent book being Macroevolutionary Theory on Macroecological Patterns published by Cambridge University Press.

Title: Evolutionary Biology of Parasites

Author: Peter Price

Publisher & Year: Princeton University Press, 1980

List Price: $57.50

ISBN Paperback: 9 780691 082578

Verdict: A classic work essential for anyone with a serious interest in parasitology.