Animal Behavior

An Evolutionary Approach

John Alcock

564 pages, parution le 31/05/2005 (8^eme édition)

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Résumé

This new edition of Animal Behavior has been completely rewritten with coverage of much recent work in animal behavior, resulting in a thoroughly up-to-date text. Notable is the inclusion, for the first time, of discussion questions embedded in the text itself, rather than appended to the end of each chapter. This format is designed to encourage students to reflect on the material they have just digested while also making it easier for instructors to promote a problem-solving approach to the subject in their classes. Another key organizational improvement is the consolidation of what had been two separate chapters on the genetic and environmental influences on development. By combining this material, the new Chapter 3 makes a stronger, more tightly argued case for the view that development is a truly interactive process codependent on both genetic and environmental factors.

Like previous editions, the book shows how evolutionary biologists analyze all aspects of behavior. It is distinguished by its balanced treatment of both the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary causes of behavior, and stresses the utility of evolutionary theory in unifying the different behavioral disciplines. Important concepts are explained by reference to key illustrative studies; examples are drawn evenly from studies of invertebrates and vertebrates, and are supported by nearly 1,300 reference citations. The writing style is clear and engaging: beginning students have no difficulty following the material, despite the strong conceptual orientation of the text.

Throughout, the author keeps the essence of the scientific enterprise clearly in front of the student reader. The text stresses the role of theory and hypothesis-testing in doing science. The book also emphasizes the tentative nature of scientific conclusions, and it identifies controversial and unresolved issues.

L'auteur - John Alcock

John Alcock is a Regents' Professor of Biology at Arizona State University. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University under the direction of Ernst Mayr. His research deals with the behavioral ecology of insect mating systems, with projects that have taken him from Arizona to Costa Rica and Australia. He wrote The Triumph of Sociobiology (2001) and coauthored The Evolution of Insect Mating Systems (1983) with Randy Thornhill. Alcock has also written six other books on animal behavior and natural history for general audiences. One of these, In a Desert Garden, received the Burroughs' Award for natural history writing in 1998. Dr. Alcock also received the Dean's Quality Teaching Award the first year it was given at Arizona State University.

Sommaire

An Evolutionary Approach to Animal Behavior
Understanding the Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Bird Song
The Development of Behavior
The Control of Behavior: Neural Mechanisms
The Organization of Behavior: Neurons and Hormones
Behavioral Adaptations against Predators
The Evolution of Feeding Behavior
The Evolution of Selecting Where to Live
The Evolution of Communication
The Evolution of Reproductive Behavior
The Evolution of Mating Systems
The Evolution of Parental Care
The Evolution of Social Behavior
The Evolution of Human Behavior

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Caractéristiques techniques

	PAPIER
Éditeur(s)	Sinauer
Auteur(s)	John Alcock
Parution	31/05/2005
Édition	8^eme édition
Nb. de pages	564
Format	23 x 28
Couverture	Relié
Poids	1581g
Intérieur	Quadri
EAN13	9780878930050
ISBN13	978-0-87893-005-0