Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach

by Nicholas B. Davies and John R. Krebs

Book Overview

Intended for graduate and upper level undergraduate courses in behavioural ecology where students are already familiar with the basic ideas, this book continues to define the subject. A completely new set of contributions has been brought together once more to take account of the many exciting new developments in the field. Each chapter presents a balanced view of the subject, integrating a clear exposition of the theory with a critical discussion...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865427313
• ISBN13: 9780865427310
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A leader in the field

This book is highly regarded in the field of behavioral ecology, and its more of a new volume than an 2nd ed. It focuses on the most advancing areas of the field, so if you are interested in other areas not covered in this edition, like predator-prey dynamics, check out the previous edition. This is a technical book so of course it requires some time and lots of thought to get through, but its definately worth it. For a mult-authored book, this one has been beautifully edited with smooth transitions from chapter to chapter. My favorite chapter was the one on sexual selection. I was already familar with the topic but this account of sexual selection was quite inciteful. If you are seriously studying animal behavior or behavioral ecology (there is a slight difference), this book is a must. Rightly so, it focuses on the ecological and evolutionary aspects of behavior, but there are a few chapters on the proximate cause of behavior as well. Animal behavior has long been studied and described, but it is only with the rigors of evolutionary thought that they are explained and understood, as evident by this book. This field has progressed much in the last few decades, and most would be surprised at how developed and rigorous it has become. The mathematical models presented are for the most part simple to understand and they adequately synthesize empirical evidence. If you are looking for an introduction to the field, start with their book, An Introduction to Behaviour Ecology.