An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology

1. Natural selection, ecology and behaviour. 2. Testing hypotheses in behavioural ecology. 3. Economic decisions. 4. Predators versus prey : evolutionary arms races. 5. Competing for resources. 6. Living in groups. 7. Sexual selection, sperm competition and sexual conflict. 8. Sex allocation. 9. Parental care and family conflicts. 10. Mating systems. 11. Social behaviours : altruism to spite. 12. Cooperation. 13. Altruism and cooperation in the social insects. 14. Communication. 15. Conclusion.

Nicholas B. Davies FRS is Professor of Behavioural Ecology in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Pembroke College.

John R. Krebs FRS is Principal of Jesus College and Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, and a member of the House of Lords.

Stuart West is Professor of Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford.

"... a new edition of the textbook that has introduced generations of undergraduates (and postgraduates) to the delights of behavioural ecology, inspiring many (myself included) to take up the discipline professionally, is a rare treat. Behavioural ecology is, fundamentally, modern-day natural history and there is no clearer written, more inspiringly enthusiastic guide to the subject on the market. This book sets the gold standard for behavioural ecology and animal behaviour textbooks which will no doubt continue to inform and delight students and researchers in equal measure for many years to come." ( Animal Behaviour , 1 March 2013) "Overall, this seems a timely update to a very useful book; it should be widely used by lecturers and undergraduates alike." ( British Ecological Society Bulletin , 1 December 2012) "[ An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 4th Edition ] Stands tall as the textbook to have in the field of Behavioral Ecology...I expect anyone with an A level in Biology, or equivalent, or an interest in Zoology without the qualification, could pick this book up and get a lot out of it...What this book is, is good science explained well, I scored higher in my behavioral ecology exam than I did in any other exam in my finals. I wouldn't put that entirely down to this book, but it certainly influenced things. The book is well printed, as you would expect, with great clear photographs used liberally, and a lot of graphs and diagrams. In summary then, if you want to know why animals behave the way they do, why swordtail fish do really have the long tails, why birds sing, why fish shoal under certain circumstances, why well fed parrot females produce more males, and why related long-tailed tits help each other raise young, then this book really is for you. I recommend it wholeheartedly." ( The Amateur Naturalist magazine , 1 November 2012) "The book opens with a section on Watching and Wondering, capturing the excitement of natural history, that same

"... a new edition of the textbook that has introduced generations of undergraduates (and postgraduates) to the delights of behavioural ecology, inspiring many (myself included) to take up the discipline professionally, is a rare treat. Behavioural ecology is, fundamentally, modern-day natural history and there is no clearer written, more inspiringly enthusiastic guide to the subject on the market. This book sets the gold standard for behavioural ecology and animal behaviour textbooks which will no doubt continue to inform and delight students and researchers in equal measure for many years to come." (Animal Behaviour, 1 March 2013)
 
"Overall, this seems a timely update to a very useful book; it should be widely used by lecturers and undergraduates alike." (British Ecological Society Bulletin, 1 December 2012)
 
"[An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 4th Edition] Stands tall as the textbook to have in the field of Behavioral Ecology...I expect anyone with an A level in Biology, or equivalent, or an interest in Zoology without the qualification, could pick this book up and get a lot out of it...What this book is, is good science explained well, I scored higher in my behavioral ecology exam than I did in any other exam in my finals. I wouldn't put that entirely down to this book, but it certainly influenced things.
 
The book is well printed, as you would expect, with great clear photographs used liberally, and a lot of graphs and diagrams.
 
In summary then, if you want to know why animals behave the way they do, why swordtail fish do really have the long tails, why birds sing, why fish shoal under certain circumstances, why well fed parrot females produce more males, and why related long-tailed tits help each other raise young, then this book really is for you. I recommend it wholeheartedly." (The Amateur Naturalist magazine, 1 November 2012)
 
"The book opens with a section on Watching and Wondering, capturing the excitement