Most organisms and populations have to cope with hostile environments that threaten their existence. Their ability to respond phenotypically and genetically to these challenges and to evolve adaptive mechanisms is crucial. This book examines the impact of stress on biological sys tems from a evolutionary perspective. It explores how organisms adapt to extreme environments, how stress changes genetic structure and affe cts life histories, how organisms cope with thermal stress through acc limation, and how environmental and genetic stress induce fluctuating asymmetry, shape selection pressure...