In this work, George C. Williams--one of evolutionary biology's most distinguished scholars--examines the mechanisms and meaning of natural selection in evolution. Williams offers his own perspective on modern evolutionary theory, including discussions of the gene as the unit of selection, clade selection and macroevolution, diversity within and among populations, stasis, and other timely and provocative topics. In dealing with the levels-of-selection controversy, he urges a pervasive form of the replicator-vehicle distinction. Natural selection, he argues, takes place in the separate...
In this work, George C. Williams--one of evolutionary biology's most distinguished scholars--examines the mechanisms and meaning of natural selection ...
Despite the depiction of nature "red in tooth and claw," cooperation is actually widespread in the animal kingdom. Various types of cooperative behaviors have been documented in everything from insects to primates, and in every imaginable ecological scenario. Yet why animals cooperate is still a hotly contested question in literature on evolution and animal behavior. This book examines the history surrounding the study of cooperation, and proceeds to examine the conceptual, theoretical and empirical work on this fascinating subject. Early on, it outlines the four different categories of...
Despite the depiction of nature "red in tooth and claw," cooperation is actually widespread in the animal kingdom. Various types of cooperative behavi...
No species occurs everywhere. Indeed, the majority are absent from most places, and where they do occur they are usually quite rare. Gaston discusses the structure of these distributions - the structure of the geographic ranges of species. Gaston is particularly concerned with the factors that determine the limits to a species' geographic range, how the sizes of those ranges vary, and patterns in that variation. Also considered are the distribution of individuals amongst those sites where a species does occur and what determines that distribution, and some of the practical implications of...
No species occurs everywhere. Indeed, the majority are absent from most places, and where they do occur they are usually quite rare. Gaston discusses ...
At first sight just a small brown bird, the dunnock's unobtrusive appearance belies its extraordinary behavior and mating patterns. This book gives a full account of the mating systems of the dunnock or hedge sparrow, Prunella modularis, which include pairs, a male with two females, two males with one female, and several males with several females. Detailed observations, elegant field experiments, and DNA fingerprinting are combined to show how this variable social organization arises from selfish individuals competing to maximize their own reproductive success. Further experiments reveal how...
At first sight just a small brown bird, the dunnock's unobtrusive appearance belies its extraordinary behavior and mating patterns. This book gives a ...
When a species colonizes an area that it has not previously inhabited, it is called an "invasion," and it can result in the extinction of en demic species. The increase in numbers of humans travelling the world presents opportunities for invasions by organisms and the spread of di seases such as rabies and smallpox. Using the large amount of data fro m studies in pest control and epidemiology, it is possible to construc t mathematical models that can predict which species will become invad ers, which habitats are susceptible to invasion, and the biological im pact. This book presents a clear...
When a species colonizes an area that it has not previously inhabited, it is called an "invasion," and it can result in the extinction of en demic spe...
Colonial living is characterized by division of labor and finely coordinated organization; however, many events within a colony are the result of conflicts between individuals seeking to maximize their own interests. This interplay of cooperation and conflict has raised many questions in evolutionary biology, especially how cooperative behavior is maintained in the absence of direct reproduction by workers. How, then, is this behavior passed on? Authors Crozier and Pamilo's analyze the genetic basis of the patterns of reproduction and resource allocation found in social insect colonies -...
Colonial living is characterized by division of labor and finely coordinated organization; however, many events within a colony are the result of conf...
Group Living is a widespread phenomenon within the animal kingdom and has attracted considerable attention in a number of different contexts. This book is focused on the unifying concepts regarding group behaviour that have been developed since the 1980s.
Group Living is a widespread phenomenon within the animal kingdom and has attracted considerable attention in a number of different contexts. This boo...
One of the main tenets of evolutionary biology is that organisms behave so as to maximize the number of genes that will be passed on to future generations. This leads to one of two effects: parental attention and altruistic behavior; or parents producing more offspring than they will likely raise. The latter instance further leads to acute competitions, frequently leading to deprivations and even death. This book details the theory, field experiments, and natural history of sibling rivalry across a broad sweep of animals and plants. The variety of information will appeal to both academics and...
One of the main tenets of evolutionary biology is that organisms behave so as to maximize the number of genes that will be passed on to future generat...
