Molecular Approaches to Ecology presents studies on the molecular aspects underlying adaptation along with discussions of the concept of molecular adaptation. A proper approach to the study of adaptation must start from the consideration of the relation organism-environment at the level of the community or of the organism, and progressively proceed from this organismic starting point to the underlying molecular aspects. Examples are presented showing that the adaptation to a given environment cannot be traced down to a single molecular mechanism. The book contains nine chapters and begins with a discussion of adaptation and natural selection. This is followed by separate chapters on the basic concepts of comparative biochemistry; the biochemical continuum and ecological integration; and the chemical properties of organisms related to physical and chemical properties of the environment. Subsequent chapters deal with isosmotic intracellular regulation; physiological radiations of biochemical systems; and metabolic relations in the production of the cocoon by the silkworm.