Why Elephants Have Big Ears: Understanding Patterns of Life on Earth

Christopher Lavers was the sort of boy who played with tadpoles, examined bugs, and studied dinosaurs. Like many of us, he had a fundamental curiosity about biology and ecology. However, the intensity of his interest led him down a path littered with many questions but few answers, and directed him to a lifelong pursuit of animal and nature study. As an adult, a scientist, and a teacher, Lavers has never stopped wondering. Why Elephants Have Big Ears is the result of the author's unrelenting quest. In it, Lavers constructs reasoned and enjoyable arguments to explain many puzzling aspects of the natural world. Why are all the really large land animals on earth mammals? Why are there so many birds on earth, and why are they so small? Why are rivers, lakes, and swamps dominated not by large mammals as on the land, but by large reptiles? Throughout, Lavers shows us how the answers to our many questions are more fascinating than our original inquiries. And with a true enthusiast's zeal, he reinvigorates our desire to examine and understand the natural world.AUTHORBIO: CHRIS LAVERS is a lecturer in natural history in the School of Geography, University of Nottingham, England. He studied paleontology as an undergraduate and was awarded a Ph.D. for his studies in the field of wildlife ecology in 1993. His work has been published in numerous journals and magazines.Lavers, Christopher is the author of 'Why Elephants Have Big Ears: Understanding Patterns of Life on Earth' with ISBN 9780312269029 and ISBN 0312269021.