Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Unlocking the puzzle of how animals behave and how they interact with their environments is impossible without understanding the physiological processes that determine their use of food resources. But long overdue is a user-friendly introduction to the subject that systematically bridges the gap between physiology and ecology. Ecologists - for whom such knowledge can help clarify the consequences of global climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and pollution - often find themselves wading through an unwieldy, technically top-heavy literature. Here, William Karasov and Carlos Martinez del Rio present the first accessible and authoritative one-volume overview of the physiological and biochemical principles that shape how animals procure energy and nutrients and free themselves of toxins - and how this relates to broader ecological phenomena."--Jacket.