Recent Additions

George Barlow, George W. Barlow.   2002. The Cichlid Fishes: Nature's Grand Experiment in Evolution

Cichlid fishes are amazing creatures. In terms of sheer number of species, they are the most successful of all families of vertebrate animals, and the extent and speed with which they have evolved in some African lakes has made them the darlings of evolutionary biologists. But what really captivates scientists like George W. Barlow--not to mention thousands of aquarists the world over--is the complexity of their social lives and their devotion to family: Most species of cichlids are monogamous and many pairs share the responsibility of raising offspring. In this way, they embody the abstract ideal of the human family, with males and females remaining faithful to each other as long as the offspring need their care and protection. With warmth and wit, Barlow describes the remarkably high intelligence of these fishes, their complex mating and parenting rituals, their bizarre feeding and fighting habits, and their highly unusual adaptations. He tells us about female fish that can change their sex overnight when males are in short supply, and males that lug enormous snail shells into their territory so that their mates will have a proper home. Some cichlid parents even allow their offspring to feed from their own bodies when food is scarce. But it is the cichlids' explosive rate of speciation that makes them unique in the animal kingdom. Far more diverse than Darwin's finches, cichlids have evolved into over a thousand species. With fantastic jaws that allow them to exploit a wide array of food sources, and scores of unique feeding and mating strategies, cichlids have an uncanny ability to specialize. While many think of nature as a collection of ecological niches waiting to be filled, cichlids appear to create their own niches--and they prosper because of it. A celebration of their diversity, The Cichlid Fishes is also a marvelous exploration of how these unique animals might help resolve the age-old puzzle of how species arise and evolve. Like E.O. Wilson's ants, and Bernd Heinrich's ravens, George Barlow's cichlids will delight and enlighten naturalists for generations to come.

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-05-14 07:53 )

Marc Bekoff, Jane Goodall.   2003. Minding Animals: Awareness, Emotions, and Heart

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-05-09 13:25 )

Marina Cords.   1987. Mixed-Species Association of Cercopithecus Monkeys in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya (University of California Publications in Zoology)

This monograph presents the results of a 12-month field study of the social and ecological relations between two monkey species that occur sympatrically in many African forests. While focusing on an evolutionary analysis of their participation in mixed-species groups, the book includes extensive data on feeding, diet and ranging behavior, social behavior, vocalizations, and anti-predator behavior. Comparisons to other taxa that form mixed-species associations are also included.

added to list by Jill Mateo :: ( last modified 2008-04-27 09:40 )

John Alcock.   2005. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach, Eighth Edition

Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach continues the tradition of its predecessors in showing how evolutionary biologists analyze all aspects of behavior. The book is distinguished by its balanced treatment of both the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary causes of behavior. The text stresses the utility of evolutionary theory in unifying the different behavioral disciplines. Important concepts are explained by reference to key illustrative studies, which are described in sufficient detail to help students appreciate the role of the scientific process in producing research discoveries. Examples are drawn from studies of invertebrates and vertebrates. The writing style is clear and engaging: beginning students have no difficulty following the material, despite the strong conceptual orientation of the text.

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-14 11:55 )

Sue McDonnell.   2003. The Equid Ethogram: A Practical Field Guide to Horse Behavior

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 16:34 )

Michael Tomasello, Josep Call.   1997. Primate Cognition

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 15:45 )

George Waring.   2002. Horse Behavior, 2nd Edition

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 12:50 )

Paul W. Sherman, John Alcock.   2005. Exploring Animal Behavior: Readings from American Scientist, Fourth Edition

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 11:25 )

Jeffrey R Lucas, Leigh W Simmons.   2005. Essays in Animal Behaviour: Celebrating 50 Years of Animal Behaviour

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 11:25 )

Lee Dugatkin.   1999. CHEATING MONKEYS AND CITIZEN BEES : The NATURE of COOPERATION in ANIMALS and HUMANS

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 10:59 )

Dale F. Lott, Harry W. Greene.   2003. American Bison: A Natural History (Organisms and Environments, 6)

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 10:07 )

John Alcock, Marilyn Hoff Stewart.   1994. Sonoran Desert Spring

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 08:58 )

Marc Bekoff, John A. Byers.   1998. Animal Play: Evolutionary, Comparative and Ecological Perspectives

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 08:58 )

Marc Bekoff, Stephen Jay Gould.   2000. The Smile of a Dolphin: Remarkable Accounts of Animal Emotions

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 08:42 )

John A. Byers.   1998. American Pronghorn: Social Adaptations and the Ghosts of Predators Past

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 08:17 )

Randy J. Nelson.   2005. An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology, Third Edition

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 07:09 )

John Alcock.   2001. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 03:06 )

John C. Wright, Judi Wright Lashnits.   1996. Is Your Cat Crazy Solutions from the Casebook of a Cat Therapist

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-04 02:00 )

Patrick Bateson, Johan J. Bolhuis, Jerry A. Hogan.   1999. The Development of Animal Behavior: A Reader

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-03 23:46 )

Elizabeth Adkins-Regan.   2005. Hormones and Animal Social Behavior (Monographs in Behavior and Ecology)

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-03 23:46 )

Stephan Reebs.   2001. Fish Behavior in the Aquarium and in the Wild (Comstock Books)

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-03 23:12 )

John C. Wright, Judy Wright Lashnits.   2001. Ain't Misbehavin': The Groundbreaking Program for Happy, Well-Behaved Pets and Their People

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-03 21:51 )

Filippo Aureli, Jo-Anne Bachorowski, Michael J. Beran, Jesse M. Bering, Josep Call, Claudio Cantalupo, Lynn A. Fairbanks, Samuel D. Gosling, Franklynn C. Graves, Rebecca A. Herman.   2005. Primate Psychology

added to list by Shan D. Duncan :: ( last modified 2008-04-03 21:31 )

Arun Srivastava.   1999. Primates of Northeast India

This book is intended as a popular guide describing the status, distribution, ecology, behavior, and conservation of primates of northeast India. Therefore the chief objective is to provide a means for the layperson to become acquainted with the primates and their habitats and thus foster an interest in wildlife and their conservation.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 21:51 )

Jae C. Choe, Bernard J. Crespi.   1997. The Evolution of Mating Systems in Insects and Arachnids

Insects and arachnids display the most impressive diversity of mating and social behavior among all animals. This book investigates sexual competition in these groups, and the variety of ways in which males and females, pursue, persuade, manipulate, control and help one another. Each chapter provides a comprehensive review of mating systems in various groups and suggests fruitful avenues for further research.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 21:47 )

Frederick R. Prete, Harrington Wells, Patrick H. Wells, Lawrence E. Hurd.   1999. The Praying Mantids

"The Praying Mantids" brings together all that is currently known about mantid taxonomy, ecology, reproduction, sensory systems, and behavior (including flight, prey capture, defense, and the hierarchical organization of their behavioral repertoires). Each of the chapters reflect the strong personal stamp and intellectual commitment of the contributors, who have each done pioneering work in mantid research. Many of the selections present ground-breaking data on topics not previously explored. The text is enhanced by numerous illustrations, including a gallery of color images, and a final section of the book covers information on rearing and breeding techniques. The foreword is written by Professor John Alcock.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 20:00 )

Charles R. Brown.   1998. Swallow Summer (Bison Book)

A nontechnical book written for people with interests in natural history, this chronicle of a single summer of field research focuses on how one studies animals in nature. The fascinating social behavior of the cliff swallow is described and serves as a backdrop, but this book is mostly an account of the joys and frustrations that come with field work. The author recounts adventures in the field, the inevitable friction among researchers and local residents, and the excitement that comes from scientific discovery.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 15:52 )

Susan A. Foster, John A. Endler.   1999. Geographic Variation in Behavior: Perspectives on Evolutionary Mechanisms

Traditional approaches to the study of animal behavior have most often assumed that all members of a species exhibit the same behavior, termed species typical behavior. The papers in Geographic Variation in Behavior demonstrate the fallacy of this assumption, providing ample evidence of variation across the ranges of a wide variety of taxa. Each of the chapters in this edited book describes research on behavioral characters that vary geographically, at least in part as a consequence of underlying genetic variation. The authors explore either the mechanisms by which the behavioral differences have evolved, or methodological issues in the evolutionary study of geographic variation in behavior. Taken together, the body of work represented in this book demonstrates that genetically based geographic variation in behavior may be the norm, rather than the exception. Equally, the examples offer exciting insights into the ways in which geographic variation in behavior can be used to understand the causes and consequences of behavioral evolution, and of evolutionary pattern in general. The book is unique in its emphasis on geographic variation in behavior as a source of evolutionary insight, and of information on the mechanisms of behavioral evolution.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 15:04 )

Bridget J.M. Stutchbury, Eugene S. Morton.   2001. Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds

The main theme of this book is to illustrate how, and why tropical birds are so different from temperate zone birds. The book's purpose is to dispel the temperate zone biologist's ignorance of tropical biology and to stimulate more research on tropical birds. This book examines behavioral adaptations of tropical birds in timing of breeding, life history traits, mating systems, and parental care, territoriality, communication and biotic interactions, and emphasizes the many gaps in our knowledge of tropical birds. We urge that students and researchers in temperate and tropical regions alike realize the potential they have for improving our knowledge of avian adaptations far beyond what is currently accepted as gospel. Time is running out.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 13:10 )

Sara J. Shettleworth.   1998. Cognition, Evolution, and Behavior

How do animals perceive the world, learn, remember, search for food or mates, and find their way around? Do any nonhuman animals count, imitate one another, use a language or think as we do? What use is cognition in nature and how might it have evolved? Historically, research on such questions has been fragmented. Psychologists have contributed theoretical models and experiments on learning by studying a few species in the laboratory. Biologists have contributed insights about the evolution and the adaptive use of perception, learning, and decision making by studying numerous different species in nature. Cognition, Evolution, and Behavior integrates findings from psychology, behavioral ecology, and ethology in a wide-ranging synthesis of theory and research on animal cognition in the broadest sense, from species-specific adaptations of vision in fish and cognitive mapping in rats and honey bees to theory of mind in chimpanzees. As a major contribution to an emerging interdisciplinary science of comparative cognition, this work will be an essential resource for all students and researchers in psychology, zoology, behavioral neuroscience and the cognitive sciences more generally who are concerned with how animals -- including humans -- process, retain, and use information as they do.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 13:08 )

Frans de Waal.   2000. Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Apes

In Chimpanzee Politics, Frans de Waal expands and updates his extraordinary account of the daily life of a large zoo colony of chimpanzees in Arnhem, The Netherlands. This new edition expands our knowledge of chimpanzee behavior and tells what has happened to the members of the Arnhem colony in the last fifteen years. When first published in 1982, Chimpanzee Politics helped establish the now accepted view that the higher animals experience desires, intentions, and even consciousness. Today, this engrossing account of sexual rivalries and coalitions, of actions governed by intelligence rather than instinct, reaffirms the complex bond between humans and their closest living relatives. The chimpanzees of Arnhem behave in ways we recognize from Machiavelli; the roots of politics, de Waal concludes are older than humanity

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 12:59 )

Scott Creel, Nancy Marusha Creel.   2002. The African Wild Dog: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (Monographs in Behavior and Ecology)

This book presents data from a long-term study of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Selous Game Reserve of southern Tanzania. While most the data is previously unpublished, the book also makes a serious effort to compile information from other studies of wild dogs, and studies of other social carnivores. African wild dogs are endangered, and much of the book focuses on identifying the ecological and demographic reasons that wild dogs are invariably rare in comparison to other large carnivores in the same ecosystems. The book presents substantial data on basic subjects such as ranging patterns, habitat selection, and life history. Wild dogs are obligately cooperative breeders, and the book examines a broad range of topics in the evolution and mechanisms of cooperation and conflict. Wild dogs are strongly affected by interspecific competition, which is examined at length. Finally, the book presents the largest data set collected to date on mammalian predator-prey interactions. While the book is written for professional biologists and students, it will also be of interest to well-read amateurs.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 12:16 )

Jack A. Palmer, Linda K. Palmer.   2001. Evolutionary Psychology: The Ultimate Origins of Human Behavior

Drawing evidence from an array of disciplines including paleontology, anthropology, comparative psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, Evolutionary Psychology: The Ultimate Origins of Human Behavior explains how certain patterns of human behavior developed over time in order to insure survival and reproduction. Human behavioral tendencies are the result of both environmental selective pressures and sexual selection. Moreover, in order to explain human behavior in a holistic way the text weaves evolutionary explanations into a framework that incorporates ontogeny and physiological mechanisms, as well as immediate causation. It reviews how evolutionary psychology explains and predicts human behavior in a variety of contexts such as mate selection and striving for higher social status. Primary topics addressed are human origins, evolution of the brain and mind, language, mating, development, social behavior, tool use, art, and the challenges of adjusting our evolved psychological tendencies to the modern environment.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 11:59 )

Sharon L. Crowell-Davis, Thomas Murray.   2005. Veterinary Psychopharmacology

Every year as many as six million companion animals are euthanized for behavior problems in the United States alone. Every day veterinarians in practice are asked to treat pets exhibiting problem behaviors-behaviors that often can't be treated by traditional behavior modification therapy alone. In the last several years, pharmacologic treatments of behavior have made significant advances and can serve as a critical part of therapy.For students and professionals in veterinary medicine and animal science Veterinary Pscyhopharmacology is the only complete source of current knowledge on the subject of pharmacologic behavior modification. Classification of disorders is eschewed in favor of in-depth explanations of pharmacologic options in inducing behavior changes. Special emphasis is given to explaining the underlying mechanism of pharmacologic agents used in therapy; thus, veterinarians will know not only which drugs to prescribe but why they should be prescribed and how they work.

added to list by Jill Mateo :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 10:15 )

Mauricio R. Papini.   2001. Comparative Psychology: Evolution and Development of Behavior

This introduction to the evolutionary and developmental principles underlying the study of animal behavior provides a broad view of behavior from the comparative psychology perspective. The author discusses all aspects of the subject-including comparative learning and cognition, brain evolution and behavior, primate evolution, behavior genetics, behavioral ecology, social behavior in an ecological context, early experience and development, and the ontogeny of social behavior. Emphasizing problems and research interests that have traditional relevance for psychologists, the text uses examples drawn from specialized journals to provide a firm grasp of evolutionary science as it is applied to the understanding of behavior.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 10:12 )

Randy J. Nelson.   2005. Biology of Aggression

With recent advances in pharmacology and genetic manipulation techniques, new interest has developed in the biological mechanisms of both non-human and human aggression. Although aggression is certainly a complex social behavior with multiple causes, molecular biological factors should not be overlooked, as they may well lead to interventions that prevent excess aggressive behaviors. The primary goal of this book is to summarize and synthesize recent advances in the biological study of aggression. As most aggressive encounters among human and non-human animals represent a male proclivity, the research in this book describes and discusses studies using the most appropriate murine model: testosterone-dependent offensive inter-male aggression, which is typically measured in resident-intruder or isolation-induced aggression tests. The research also emphasizes various molecules that have been linked to aggression tests. Although the evidence continues to point to androgens and serotonin (5-HT) as major hormonal and neurotransmitter factors in aggressive behavior, recent work with GABA, dopamine, vasopressin, and other factors, such as nitric oxide, has revealed significant interactions with the neural circuitry underlying aggression. This book is organized according to levels of analysis. The first section examines the genetic contributions to aggression in species ranging from crustaceans to humans. The section summarizes the involvement of various neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in aggressive behavior. The third section summarizes the influence of hormones on aggression, primarily in humans. All chapters emphasize future directions for research on aggression and reveal important domains that have received comparatively less attention in this literature.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 09:35 )

Randy Thornhill, Craig T. Palmer.   2001. A Natural History of Rape: Biological Bases of Sexual Coercion

Randy Thornhill and Craig Palmer use evolutionary biology to explain the causes of rape and to recommend new approaches to its prevention. According to Thornhill and Palmer, evolved adaptation of some sort gives rise to rape; the main evolutionary question is whether rape is an adaptation itself or a by-product of other adaptations. Regardless of the answer, Thornhill and Palmer note, rape circumvents a central feature of women's reproductive strategy: mate choice. This is a primary reason why rape is devastating to its victims, especially young women. Thornhill and Palmer address, and demolish scientifically, many myths about rape bred by social science theory over the past twenty-five years. The popular contention that rapists are not motivated by sexual desire is, they argue, scientifically inaccurate. Rape could cease to exist, they argue, only in a society knowledgeable about its evolutionary causes.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 09:06 )

Stephen M. Shuster, Michael J. Wade.   2003. Mating Systems and Strategies (Monographs in Behavior and Ecology)

This book presents the first unified conceptual and statistical framework for understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies. Using the concept of the opportunity for sexual selection, the authors illustrate how and why sexual selection, though restricted to one sex and opposed in the other, is one of the strongest and fastest of all evolutionary forces. They offer a statistical framework for studying mating system evolution and apply it to patterns of alternative mating strategies. In doing so, they provide a method for quantifying how the strength of sexual selection is affected by the ecological and life history processes that influence females' spatial and temporal clustering and reproductive schedules. Directly challenging verbal evolutionary models that attempt to explain reproductive behavior without quantitative reference to evolutionary genetics, this book establishes a more solid theoretical foundation for the field. Among the weaknesses the authors find in the existing data is the apparent ubiquity of condition-dependent mating tactics. They identify factors likely to contribute to the evolution of alternative mating strategies--which they argue are more common than generally believed--and illustrate how to measure the strength of selection acting on them. Lastly, they offer predictions on the covariation of mating systems and strategies, consider the underlying developmental biology behind male polyphenism, and propose directions for future research. Informed by genetics, this is a comprehensive and rigorous new approach to explaining mating systems and strategies that will influence a wide swath of evolutionary biology.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 09:05 )

Elliott Sober, David Sloan Wilson.   1998. Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior

Unto Others examines the concept of altruism in both the evolutionary (based on fitness effects) and psychological (based on motives) senses of the word. Included is a thorough review of group selection in relation to the other major evolutionary theories of social behavior (kin selection, game theory, and selfish gene theory). Unto Others was written for an interdisciplinary audience but is also thorough in its coverage of the material. Its scope is conveyed in the final paragraph: Our book has been about altruism, but it also has opened opened the door to a wide range of other subjects. Altruism can be removed from the endangered species list in both biology and the social sciences. Groups can qualify as organismic units. Culture can play a vital role in the evolutionary process. And the study of psychological mechanisms can be as evolutionary as the study of behavior. It is heartening to contemplate the emergence of a legitimate pluralism--for evolutionary theories of social behavior, for theories of psychological motivation, and for the larger intellectual traditions that influence how we think about ourselves and the world around us.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 07:30 )

Suzanne Hetts, Suzanne Hetts PhD.   1999. Pet Behavior Protocols: What to Say, What to Do, When to Refer

Pet Behavior Protocols: What to Say, What to Do, When to Refer is perfect for anyone in a position to aid pet owners in finding sensible solutions to pet behavior problems, including veterinary professionals, shelter staff, breeders, trainers, animal control agents, and anyone else involved with animal welfare. The book takes technical animal behavior theory and turns it into effective, practical solutions for real-life situations you'll face with dog and cat owners in your community. It supplies practical, effective protocols for behavioral problems so you can follow a methodical step-by-step guide when pet owners turn to you for solutions. The book includes sample questions so you'll know exactly what to ask pet owners and presents information on problem prevention using several highly effective principles.

added to list by Jill Mateo :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 07:28 )

Peter H. Klopfer.   1999. Politics and People in Ethology: Personal Reflections on the Study of Animal Behavior

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 07:12 )

Irene Maxine Pepperberg.   2002. The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots

This book constitutes a synthesis of twenty years of experiments on the cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 07:06 )

George B. Schaller.   2000. Wildlife of the Tibetan Steppe

The Chang Tang, the vast, remote Tibetan steppe, is home to a unique assemblage of large mammals, including Tibetan antelope, gazelle, argali sheep, wild ass, wild yak, wolves, snow leopards, and others. Since 1985, George B. Schaller and his Chinese and Tibetan co-workers have surveyed the flora and fauna of the Chang Tang. Their research provides the first detailed look at the natural history of one of the world's least known ecosystems. The plains ungulates are the main focus of this book--especially the Tibetan antelope, or `chiru', whose migrations define this ecosystem much as those of the wildebeest define the Serengeti. Schaller's descriptions of mammal numbers and distribution, behavior, and ecology provide baseline information that may allow wildlife, grasslands, and pastoralists to continue to coexist harmoniously in this region. This project led to the creation of the 130,000-square-mile Chang Tang Reserve by the Tibetan government in 1993, and Wildlife of the Tibetan Steppe should help promote future studies as well as conservation and management efforts.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 06:40 )

Karen B. Strier.   2002. Primate Behavioral Ecology (2nd Edition)

Primate behavioral ecology incorporates exciting new discoveries in its introduction to the field and its applications of behavioral ecology primate conservation....integrates the basics of evolutionary and ecological approaches and new noninvasive molecular and hormonal techniques to the study of primate behavior.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 06:06 )

Jae C. Choe, Bernard J. Crespi.   1997. The Evolution of Social Behaviour in Insects and Arachnids

Social insects and arachnids exhibit forms of complex behavior that involve cooperation in building a nest, defending against attackers or rearing offspring. This book is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to sociality and its evolution in a wide range of taxa. In it, leading researchers review the extent of sociality in different groups, analyze the genetic, ecological and demographic causes of sociality from a comparative perspective, and suggest ways the field can be better understood.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 03:53 )

Janine R. Clemmons, Richard Buchholz.   1997. Behavioral Approaches to Conservation in the Wild

Behavioral Approaches to Conservation in the Wild presents theoretical and practical arguments for considering behavior patterns in attempts to conserve biodiversity. Today's conservation literature emphasizes landscape ecology and population genetics without addressing the behavioral links that enable the long term survival of populations. Prominent scientists and wildlife managers are brought together in this volume to address a number of issues, including the limits and potentials of behavioral research to conservation, the importance of behavioral variation as a component of biodiversity, and the use of animal behavior to solve conservation problems and provide specific direction for research and management practices. The book is unique by emphasizing conservation of wild populations as opposed to captive and reintroduced populations, where behavioral research has concentrated in the past. The variety of expertise in this volume demonstrates that the complete ethological framework, not just behavioral ecology, provides valuable techniques and knowledge for conserving biodiversity.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 03:37 )

Brock Fenton.   1998. The Bat: Wings in the Night Sky

Seven chapters explore various aspects of the biology and behaviour of bats, from echolocation to diet, roosting habits to conservation. Color photographs of over 50 species of bats, as well as black and white photographs of some of their anatomical features. The book is intended for a lay audience.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 03:09 )

J. Wright, M.L. Leonard.   2002. The Evolution of Begging: Competition, Cooperation and Communication

Begging by nestlings birds has become the model system for investigations into evolutionary conflicts of interest within families and the honest signalling of offspring need. Originally inspired by theoretical treatments of parent-offspring conflict and its resolution, the field has broadened to include a range of topics in behaviour, physiology and evolutionary biology. "The Evolution of Begging" is the first book on the topic of begging and includes 24 chapters by the top researchers in the field. The book is divided into six sections including 1) theoretical approaches to begging, 2) begging as a signal and the issue of costs, 3) nestling physiology, 4) sibling competition, 5) brood parasitism and 6) statistical challenges. The book will provide a comphrensive reference for students, teachers and researchers with an interest in behaviour and evolution, and should be a source of ideas for future investigations in this dynamic area.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 02:59 )

David Evans Walter, Heather Coreen Proctor.   1999. Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour

Mites (Arachnida: Acari) are among the most species-rich and ecologically diverse of all animals. They live everywhere, from the frozen fields of Antarctica to the sandy deserts of Africa, from the rainforest canopy to the deepest ocean trenches, from the tracheae of honeybees to the pillow beneath your head. Mites are predators, parasites, herbiovores, detritovores, malentities and mutualists. Despite their ubiquity and ecological importance, most biologists know nothing about them. The goal of "Mites: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour" is to inform students and researchers about these neglected arthropods. The book is a comprehensive natural history of the Acari. It differs from many previous reference works in that it concerns itself with mites of purely scientific interest as well as those of economic importance such as ticks, spider mites and house-dust mites. Topics include evolutionary history, life cycles, habitats, reproductive systems, and biodiversity. It is well illustrated and contains about 1000 references.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 02:53 )

Robert K. Vander Meer, Michael D. Breed, Karl E. Espelie, Mark L. Winston.   1997. Pheromone Communication in Social Insects: Ants, Wasps, Bees, and Termites (Westview Studies in Insect Biology)

The book emphasizes the high level of sophistication of behavioral and chemical understanding that has been achieved for a diverse set of communicatory systems in social insects.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 02:17 )

Eisen, Westmoreland.   1998. The Living Staircase

The book is designed to integrate fundamental concepts for introductory biology students. Ten chapters cover ten principles of biology, showing how they apply at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels. A chapter on chemical signaling as a means of communication draws heavily from animal behavior.

added to list by Laura K. Sirot :: ( last modified 2008-03-29 02:12 )

Nancy G. Solomon, Jeffrey A. French.   1996. Cooperative Breeding in Mammals

Cooperative breeding refers to a social system in which individuals other than the parents provide care for the offspring. Since individuals delay breeding and invest in the offspring of others, cooperative breeding poses a challenge to a Darwinian explanation of the evolution of social behavior. The contributors to this book, which is the first to be dedicated exclusively to the phenomenon, explore the evolutionary, ecological, behavioral, and physiological basis of cooperative breeding in mammals.