African Mole-Rats: Ecology and Eusociality - Softcover

Bennett, Nigel C.; Faulkes, Chris G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 052101865X ISBN 13: 9780521018654

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2005

Synopsis

African mole-rats are a unique taxon of subterranean rodents that range in sociality from solitary-dwelling species to two "eusocial" species, the Damaraland mole-rat and the naked mole-rat. The naked mole-rat is arguably the closest that a mammal comes to behaving like social insects such as bees and termites, with large colonies and a behavioral and reproductive division of labor. As a family, the Bathyergidae represent a model system with which to study the evolution and maintenance of highly social cooperative breeding strategies. In this book, Nigel Bennett and Chris Faulkes provide a synthesis of the current knowledge of bathyergid systematics, ecology, reproductive biology, behavior, and genetics. They explore the role of these factors in the evolution of sociality in the Bathyergidae in the context of both vertebrates and invertebrates. This volume will be an important new resource for anyone interested in the evolution of sociality, specifically in mole-rats.

About this title

Book Description:

African mole-rats are a unique group of subterranean rodents in which some species show complex insect-like social behaviour and reproductive strategies. This book brings together more than two decades of research on their ecology, behaviour and genetics from the field and laboratory. Examining how the field has moved on since publication of the seminal early 90s volume on Naked Mole-Rats, it explores how these species can help us to understand how complex social behaviour has evolved. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in the evolution of behaviour.

Review:

"Although the authors present solid scientific information complete with copious high quality tables and graphs, their writing style is such as to engage nonprofessionals as well as those doing research on mole-rats. Their book should be in libraries of colleges and universities, particularly those emphasizing ecology, vertebrate biology, evolution, and animal behavior." Choice

"African Mole-Rats is a must for research libraries and individuals intrigued with the ecology, evolution, and elaboration of social life." Quarterly Review of Biology

"This book is valuable to all of us interested in evolution of social behavior for its comprehensive references on the African mole-rats and it has the advantage over an edited volume of being clearly organized and having consistent style. African mole-rats, ecology and eusociality is an excellent review of the Bathyergidae and a well-crafted arguement in support of the AFDH." Ethology

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 052101865X
• ISBN 13: 9780521018654
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288