Table of Contents

Preface Chapter 1. An Introduction to Animal BehaviorChapter 2. Behavioral Ecology and the Evolution of AltruismChapter 3. The Evolution of Social BehaviorChapter 4. The Evolution of CommunicationChapter 5. Avoiding Predators and Finding FoodChapter 6. The Evolution of Habitat Selection, Territoriality, and MigrationChapter 7. The Evolution of Reproductive BehaviorChapter 8. The Evolution of Mating SystemsChapter 9. The Evolution of Parental CareChapter 10. Proximate and Ultimate Causes of BehaviorChapter 11. The Development of BehaviorChapter 12. Evolution, Nervous Systems, and BehaviorChapter 13. How Neurons and Hormones Organize BehaviorChapter 14. The Evolution of Human BehaviorGlossaryBibliographyIllustration CreditsIndex

About the Author

John Alcock is Regents' Professor Emeritus of Biology at Arizona State University, USA. 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 seven 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.

Reviews

The tenth edition talks about behavioral ecology early and often. I commend this conceptual shift and the overall bold revision of a classic textbook. It would have been adequate to simply sprinkle in new studies within the existing framework, so the changes seem to reflect a heartfelt desire of Alcock to make an excellent volume even better. This is clearly a labor of love and has a strong personal flavor for a textbook. As in previous editions, the narrative is powered by Alcock's infectious desire to present science, evolution, and behavior clearly and memorably. I recommend this volume to all students of animal behavior. It is a great place to first discover the field, or to rediscover the big picture after years of work within the field. * Peter A. Bednekoff, The Quarterly Review of Biology *
I absolutely love this book. I have become a great fan of John Alcock. His discussions within the chapter are extremely gripping and I love his approach connecting all aspects of the genetics, environment, and evolution to the animal's behavior. Kudos! * Madeline Mignone, Dominican College *