Animal Signals (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution) - Hardcover

Maynard-Smith, John; Harper, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198526849 ISBN 13: 9780198526841

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Why are animal signals reliable? This is the central problem for evolutionary biologists interested in signals. Of course, not all signals are reliable; but most are, otherwise receivers of signals would ignore them. A number of theoretical answers have been proposed and empirical studies made, but there still remains a considerable amount of confusion. The authors, one a theoretician the other a fieldworker, introduce a sense of order to this chaos. A significant cause of confusion has been the tendency for different researchers to use either the same term with different meanings, or different terms with the same meaning. The authors attempt to clarify these differences. A second cause of confusion has arisen because many biologists continue to assume that there is only one correct explanation for signal reliability. The authors argue that the reliability of signals is maintained in several ways, relevant in different circumstances, and that biologists must learn to distinguish between them. In this book they explain the different theories, give examples of signalling systems to which one or another theory applies, and point to the many areas where further work, both theoretical and empirical, is required.

About this title

About the Author:

John Maynard Smith is an eminent evolutionary biologist and author of many books on evolution, both for scientists and the general public. He is professor emeritus at the University of Sussex, UK, Fellow of the Royal Society, winner of the Darwin Medal, and laureate of the Crafoord Prize of the Swedish Academy of Sciences. David Harper is Senior Lecturer in Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, UK.

Review:

`John Maynard Smith is an accomplished expositor and skilled modeller, and his contribution is bound to make this book an important addition to the field. David Harper is a field biologist of the highest calibre who will ensure the book remains relevant and readable to theoretically
unsophisticated biologists. The combination is hard to beat.'
Professor Alan Grafen, University of Oxford, UK

`I can assure you that the series will be greatly enhanced by the proposed volume. It will be an essential addition to the personal libraries of most evolutionary biologists and psychologists. These authors write so simply and engagingly that anyone will enjoy the book.'
Professor Colin Clark, University of British Columbia, Canada

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0198526849
• ISBN 13: 9780198526841
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176