The arthropods contain more species than any other animal group, but the
evolutionary pathways which led to their current diversity are still an
issue of controversy. Arthropod Relationships provides an overview of
our current understanding, responding to the new data arising from
sequencing DNA, the discovery of new Cambrian fossils as direct evidence
of early arthropod history, and developmental genetics. These new areas
of research have stimulated a reconsideration of classical morphology
and embryology. Arthropod Relationships is the first synthesis of
the current debate to emerge: not since the volume edited by Gupta was
published in 1979 has the arthropod phylogeny debate been, considered in
this depth and breadth.
Leaders in the various branches of arthropod biology have contributed to
this volume. Chapters focus progressively from the general issues to the
specific problems involving particular groups, and thence to a
consideration of embryology and genetics. This wide range of disciplines
is drawn on to approach an understanding of arthropod relationships, and
to provide the most timely account of arthropod phylogeny.
This book should be read by evolutionary biologists, palaeontologists,
developmental geneticists and invertebrate zoologists. It will have a
special interest for post-graduate students working in these fields.