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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Animal behaviour

The Evolution of Parental Care (Paperback): Nick J. Royle, Per T. Smiseth The Evolution of Parental Care (Paperback)
Nick J. Royle, Per T. Smiseth; MathiasNOSSUB Koelliker
R2,585 Discovery Miles 25 850 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Parental care includes a wide variety of traits that enhance offspring development and survival. It is taxonomically widespread and is central to the maintenance of biodiversity through its close association with other phenomena such as sexual selection, life-history evolution, sex allocation, sociality, cooperation and conflict, growth and development, genetic architecture, and phenotypic plasticity. This novel book provides a fresh perspective on the study of the evolution of parental care based on contributions from some of the top researchers in the field. It provides evidence that the dynamic nature of family interactions, and particularly the potential for co-evolution among family members, has contributed to the great diversity of forms of parental care and life-histories across as well as within taxa. The Evolution of Parental Care aims to stimulate students and researchers alike to pursue exciting new directions in this fascinating and important area of behavioural and evolutionary biology. It will be of relevance and use to those working in the fields of animal behaviour, ecology, evolution, and genetics, as well as related disciplines such as psychology and sociology.

Evolution, Ecology and Conservation of Lorises and Pottos (Hardcover): K. A. I. Nekaris, Anne M. Burrows Evolution, Ecology and Conservation of Lorises and Pottos (Hardcover)
K. A. I. Nekaris, Anne M. Burrows
R2,568 Discovery Miles 25 680 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Furry and wide-eyed, lorises and pottos are small, nocturnal primates inhabiting African, Asian and Southeast Asian tropical and subtropical forests. Their likeable appearance, combined with their unusual adaptations - from a marked reduction of the tail to their mostly slow, deliberate locomotion, powerful grasping and, in some species, a venomous bite - has led to a significant rise in research interest in the family Lorisidae over the last decade. Furthermore, lorises in particular have featured frequently in international media largely due to illegal trade, for example as pets. This is the first volume to present a full picture of the breadth of research being undertaken on lorisids to aid future studies as well as conservation efforts. Focusing on five key topics: evolutionary biology, ecomorphology, behavioural ecology, captive management and conservation, this book is a vital read for graduate students and researchers in primatology, biological anthropology, evolutionary biology, animal behaviour and conservation.

Dog Behavior - Modern Science and Our Canine Companions (Paperback): James C Ha, Tracy L. Campion Dog Behavior - Modern Science and Our Canine Companions (Paperback)
James C Ha, Tracy L. Campion
R1,041 R901 Discovery Miles 9 010 Save R140 (13%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Dog Behavior: Modern Science and Our Canine Companions provides readers with a better understanding of canine science, including evolutionary concepts, ethograms, brain structures and development, sensory perspectives, the science of emotions, social structure, and the natural history of the species. The book also analyzes relationships between humans and dogs and how the latter has evolved. Readers will find this to be an ideal resource for researchers and students in animal behavior, specifically focusing on dog behavior and human-canine relationships. In addition, veterinarians seeking further information on dog behavior and the social temperament of these companion animals will find this book to be informative.

Phonological Architecture - A Biolinguistic Perspective (Paperback): Bridget D. Samuels Phonological Architecture - A Biolinguistic Perspective (Paperback)
Bridget D. Samuels
R1,848 Discovery Miles 18 480 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Phonological Architecture bridges linguistic theory and the biological sciences, presenting a comprehensive view of phonology from a biological perspective. Its back-to-basics approach breaks phonology into primitive operations and representations and investigates their possible origins in cognitive abilities found throughout the animal kingdom.
Bridget Samuels opens the discussion by considering the general properties of the externalisation system in a theory-neutral manner, using animal cognition studies to identify which components of phonology may not be unique to humans and/or to language. She demonstrates, on the basis of behavioural and physiological studies on primates, songbirds, and a wide variety of other species, that the cognitive abilities underlying human phonological representations and operations are present in creatures other than Homo sapiens (even if not to the same degree) and in domains other than phonology or, indeed, language proper. The second, more linguistically technical half of the book explores what is necessarily unique about phonology. The author discusses the properties of the phonological module which are dictated by the interface requirements of the syntactic module of Universal Grammar as well as different components of the human sensory-motor system (ie audition, vision, and motor control). She proposes a repertoire of phonological representations and operations which are consistent with Universal Grammar and human cognitive evolution. She illustrates the application of these operations with analyses of representative phonological data such as vowel harmony, reduplication, and tone spreading patterns. Finally, the author addresses the issue of cross-linguistic and inter-speaker variation.

Tool Use and Causal Cognition (Hardcover): Teresa McCormack, Christoph Hoerl, Stephen Butterfill Tool Use and Causal Cognition (Hardcover)
Teresa McCormack, Christoph Hoerl, Stephen Butterfill
R2,176 Discovery Miles 21 760 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

What cognitive abilities underpin the use of tools, and how are tools and their properties represented or understood by tool-users? Does the study of tool use provide us with a unique or distinctive source of information about the causal cognition of tool-users? Tool use is a topic of major interest to all those interested in animal cognition, because it implies that the animal has knowledge of the relationship between objects and their effects. There are countless examples of animals developing tools to achieve some goal-chimps sharpening sticks to use as spears, bonobos using sticks to fish for termites, and New Caledonian crows developing complex tools to extracts insects from logs. Studies of tool use have been used to examine an exceptionally wide range of aspects of cognition, such as planning, problem-solving and insight, naive physics, social relationship between action and perception. A key debate in recent research on animal cognition concerns the level of cognitive sophistication that is implied by animal tool use, and developmental psychologists have been addressing related questions regarding the processes through which children acquire the ability to use tools. In neuropsychology, patterns of impairments in tool use due to brain damage, and studies of neural changes associated with tool use, have also led to debates about the different types of cognitive abilities that might underpin tool use, and about how tool use may change the way space or the body is represented. Tool Use and Causal Cognition provides a new interdisciplinary perspective on these issues with contributions from leading psychologists studying tool use and philosophers providing new analyses of the nature of causal understanding A ground-breaking volume which covers several disciplines, this volume will be of interest to psychologists, including animal researchers and developmental psychologists as well as philosophers, and neuroscientists.

Zoo Animals - Behaviour, Management, and Welfare (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition): Geoff Hosey, Vicky Melfi, Sheila Pankhurst Zoo Animals - Behaviour, Management, and Welfare (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition)
Geoff Hosey, Vicky Melfi, Sheila Pankhurst
R1,651 Discovery Miles 16 510 Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The keeping of zoo animals is a central tool in the conservation of some of the world's most fascinating, yet threatened, species. But how do zoos operate on a day-to-day basis? What are the key challenges they face in trying to feed, manage, and keep healthy the animals in their care? How can they play their part in conserving biodiversity? Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare addresses the key questions surrounding the keeping of exotic animals in captivity, and reveals how we can apply our ever-growing understanding of animal behaviour and use an evidence based approach to ensure zoo animals are managed as effectively as possible. Drawing on their extensive experience of zoo research, practice, and teaching, the authors blend together theory with a broad range of both mammalian and non-mammalian examples to give a highly-readable overview of this burgeoning field. Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management, and Welfare is the ideal resource for anyone needing a thorough grounding in this subject, whether as a student or as a zoo professional. Online Resource Centre The Online Resource Centre to accompany Zoo Animals features: For all readers: * Updates - surveys of key developments in the field * Multiple choice questions with instant feedback, to aid self-assessment For registered adopters of the book: * Figures from the book in electronic format and full colour, available for download

Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection (Paperback): Ingo Schlupp Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection (Paperback)
Ingo Schlupp
R1,213 Discovery Miles 12 130 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

When Charles Darwin first proposed Sexual Selection Theory, he suggested two mechanisms: competition among males and choice by females. Although their importance is long established and extremely well understood, their mirror images have remained largely underappreciated; males also choose, and females also compete. The combination of male mate choice (MMC) and female competition (FC) may be one of the most overlooked yet important and intriguing phenomena in modern sexual selection theory. This novel text reviews our current understanding of MMC and FC, highlighting the important connections between them. It places both concepts in the context of related fields such as female choice, mating systems, and sexual selection theory more broadly. A truly holistic approach is provided which takes all the relevant elements into consideration, especially the relative roles of MMC and FC, female ornamentation, their evolutionary consequences, and their genetic basis. Considering male mate choice and female competition in this way as effectively two sides of the same coin creates a powerful paradigm for a more complete understanding of sexual selection. Male Choice, Female Competition, and Female Ornaments in Sexual Selection is suitable for both graduate students and researchers interested in sexual selection from an evolutionary, psychological, and anthropological perspective. It will also appeal to a broader audience of behavioural ecologists and evolutionary psychologists.

The Flexible Phenotype - A Body-Centred Integration of Ecology, Physiology, and Behaviour (Paperback, New): Theunis Piersma,... The Flexible Phenotype - A Body-Centred Integration of Ecology, Physiology, and Behaviour (Paperback, New)
Theunis Piersma, Jan A. van Gils
R2,066 Discovery Miles 20 660 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Flexible Phenotype attempts a true synthesis of physiology, behaviour, and ecology by developing an empirical argument that describes the intimate connections between phenotypes and their environments. It portrays an ecological angle to the rapidly growing extended synthesis in evolutionary biology that incorporates developmental processes, self-organization, and the multiple dimensions of inheritance. The book starts with a synthesis of the principles guiding current research in ecophysiology, functional morphology, and behavioural ecology. Each aspect is illustrated with the detailed results of empirical work on as wide a range of organisms as possible. The integrated story of the flexible phenotype is woven throughout the book on the basis of the authors' long-term research on migrant shorebirds and their invertebrate prey. These birds travel vast distances from one environment to another, and the changing nature of their bodies reflects the varied selection pressures experienced in the course of their globe-spanning migrations. In essence, the authors argue for the existence of direct, measurable, links between phenotype and ecology, mediated by developmental processes. Their book outlines a more encompassing approach to evolutionary ecology, based on first principles in physiology, behaviour, and ecology. It aspires to encourage a further integration of ecology and physiology, as well as fostering a collaborative research agenda between ecologists, physiologists, and developmental biologists.

Ant Ecology (Paperback): Lori Lach, Catherine Parr, Kirsti Abbott Ant Ecology (Paperback)
Lori Lach, Catherine Parr, Kirsti Abbott
R2,321 Discovery Miles 23 210 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Comprising a substantial part of living biomass on earth, ants are integral to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. More than 12,500 species have been described to date, and it is estimated that perhaps as many still await classification.
Ant Ecology explores key ecological issues and new developments in myrmecology across a range of scales. The book begins with a global perspective on species diversity in time and space, and examines interactions at the community level before describing the population ecology of these social insects. The final section covers the recent ecological phenomenon of invasive ants: how they move across the globe, invade, affect ecosystems, and are managed by humans. Each chapter links ant ecology to broader ecological principles, provides a succinct summary, and discusses future research directions. Practical aspects of myrmecology, applications of ant ecology, debates, and novel discoveries are highlighted in text boxes throughout the volume. The book concludes with a synthesis of the current state of the field and a look at exciting future research directions. The extensive reference list and full glossary are invaluable for researchers, and those new to the field.

The Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids (Hardcover, New): David Macdonald, Andrew Loveridge The Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids (Hardcover, New)
David Macdonald, Andrew Loveridge
R4,380 Discovery Miles 43 800 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The editors utilize their 50 years of combined experience in professional engagement with the behaviour and ecology of wild felids to draw together a unique network of the world's most respected and knowledgeable experts. For the first time, this inter-disciplinary research programme is brought together within a single volume.
Beginning with a complete account of all 36 felid species, there follow 8 comprehensive review chapters that span all the topics most relevant to felid conservation science, including evolution and systematics, felid form and function, genetic applications, behavioural ecology, management of species that come into conflict with people and control of international trade in felid species, conservation tools/techniques, ex situ management, and felid diseases. 19 detailed case studies then delve deeply into syntheses of the very best species investigations worldwide, written by all the leading figures in the field. These chapters portray the unique attributes of the wild felids, describe their fascinating (and conflicting) relationship with humans, and create an unparalleled platform for future research and conservation measures. A final chapter analyses the requirements of, and inter-disciplinary approaches to, practical conservation with cutting-edge examples of conservation science and action that go far beyond the cat family.

Evolutionary Psychology and the Propositional-attitudes - Two Mechanist Manifestos (Paperback, 2012): Alex Walter Evolutionary Psychology and the Propositional-attitudes - Two Mechanist Manifestos (Paperback, 2012)
Alex Walter
R1,348 Discovery Miles 13 480 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The two essays provide a critical examination of theory and research in the field of evolutionary psychology. The view advanced here is that philosophical materialism and minimalist assumptions about adaptation serve Darwinian psychology better than the more popular alternative view that relies on cognitive dualism and propositional-attitude psychology to formulate evolutionary psychology theory. A commitment to cognitive dualism is destined to undermine the physical basis of behavior upon which evolutionary theory depends. Many evolutionary psychologists do not see this but are seduced by the easy way in which hypotheses can be formulated using the 'propositional-attitude' model. The challenge is to develop a materialistic and mechanistic approach to understanding human cognition and behavior, including linguistic and social behavior.

Handbook of Mammalian Vocalization, Volume 19 - An Integrative Neuroscience Approach (Hardcover): Stefan M. Brudzynski Handbook of Mammalian Vocalization, Volume 19 - An Integrative Neuroscience Approach (Hardcover)
Stefan M. Brudzynski
R4,416 R4,000 Discovery Miles 40 000 Save R416 (9%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The present proposal offers an outline of the planned major Handbook on Mammalian Vocalization, which fills a clear niche existing in the science book literature and on the market. The Handbook is designed as a broad and comprehensive, but well-balanced book, written from the neuroscience point of view in the broad sense of this term. Only a few issues will be reduced, which are extensively covered in other recent book publications. The Handbook is planned in a unique way and will not directly compete with other books on the market. This well-illustrated Handbook will pay a particular attention to systematically organized details but also to the explanatory style of the text and internal cohesiveness of the content, so the successive chapters will gradually develop a consistent story without losing the inherent complexity. Studies from many species will be included, however, rodents will dominate, as most of the brain investigations were done on these species.
The leading idea of the Handbook is that vocalizations evolved as highly adaptive specific signals, which are selectively picked up by the brain. The brain serves as a receptor and behavioural amplifier. Brain systems will be described, which allow vocal signals rapidly changing the entire state of the organism and trigger vital biological responses, usually also with accompanying emission of vocalizations. Integrative brain functions leading to vocal outcome will be described, along with the vocalization generators and motor output to larynx and other supportive motor subsystems. The last sections of the Handbook will explain bioacoustic structure of vocalizations, present understanding of information coding, and origins of the complex semiotic/ semantic content of vocalizations in social mammals.
The Handbook is thought as a major source of information for professionals from many fields, with neuroscience approach as a common denominator. The handbook is planned to provide consistent and unified understanding of all major aspects of vocalization in a monographic manner, and at the same time, to give an encyclopaedic overview of major topics associated with vocalization from molecular/ cellular level to behavior and cognitive processing. It is planned to be written in a strictly scientific way but clear enough to serve not only for specialized researchers in different fields of neuroscience but also for academic teachers of neuroscience, including behavioural neuroscience, affective neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, neuroethology, biopsychology, neurolingusitics, speech pathology, and other related fields, and also for research fellows, graduate and other advanced students, who widely need such a source publication.

Features
The first comprehensive handbook on what we know about vocalization in Mammalians
Benefits
Currently the information on this topic is dispersed over journal articles and book chapters across a number of journals and books with different focus. The handbook will provide the researcher interested in animal and human communication, as well as the researcher interested in the control of motor systems by the brain finally with a comprehensive reference on the topic. The handbook will have great influence in providing for the first time a bridge from information on animal communication and it's nervous system control to the neural control of language and language development in the human.
Features
Carefully edited, the handbook provides an integrated overview of the area
Benefits
Instructors and students will find this handbook a useful background information in courses of animal and human communication, speech and language, the neuroethology of sound production and sound perception, and similar
Features
International list of highly regarded contributors, including Jaak Pankseep (Washington State University), David McFarland (Oxford), John D. Newman (NIH ? Unit on Developmental Neuroethology), Gerd Poeggel (Leipzig), Shiba Keisuke (Chiba City, Japan), and others, tightly edited by a single, well regarded editor who has edited a special issue in Behavioral Brain Research on the topic before.
Benefits
Complete overview with contributions from the leading researchers from eleven countries in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, presented in an integrated, tightly edited book.

Ant Ecology (Hardcover, New): Lori Lach, Catherine Parr, Kirsti Abbott Ant Ecology (Hardcover, New)
Lori Lach, Catherine Parr, Kirsti Abbott
R4,331 Discovery Miles 43 310 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Comprising a substantial part of living biomass on earth, ants are integral to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. More than 12,500 species have been described to date, and it is estimated that perhaps as many still await classification.
Ant Ecology explores key ecological issues and new developments in myrmecology across a range of scales. The book begins with a global perspective on species diversity in time and space, and examines interactions at the community level before describing the population ecology of these social insects. The final section covers the recent ecological phenomenon of invasive ants: how they move across the globe, invade, affect ecosystems, and are managed by humans. Each chapter links ant ecology to broader ecological principles, provides a succinct summary, and discusses future research directions. Practical aspects of myrmecology, applications of ant ecology, debates, and novel discoveries are highlighted in text boxes throughout the volume. The book concludes with a synthesis of the current state of the field and a look at exciting future research directions. The extensive reference list and full glossary are invaluable for researchers, and those new to the field.

Bumblebees - Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition): Dave Goulson Bumblebees - Behaviour, Ecology, and Conservation (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition)
Dave Goulson
R1,960 Discovery Miles 19 600 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Bumblebees are familiar and charismatic insects, occurring throughout much of the world. They are increasingly being used as a model organism for studying a wide range of ecological and behavioural concepts, such as social organization, optimal foraging theories, host-parasite interactions, and pollination. Recently they have become a focus for conservationists due to mounting evidence of range contractions and catastrophic extinctions with some species disappearing from entire continents (e.g. in North America). Only by improving our understanding of their ecology can we devise sensible plans to conserve them. The role of bumblebees as invasive species (e.g. Bombus terrestris in Japan) has also become topical with the growing trade in commercial bumblebee nests for tomato pollination leading to establishment of non-native bumblebees in a number of countries.
Since the publication of the first edition of the book, there have been hundreds of research papers published on bumblebees. There is clearly a continuing need for an affordable, well-illustrated, and appealing text that makes accessible all of the major advances in understanding of the behaviour and ecology of bumblebees that have been made in the last 30 years.

Sex, Size and Gender Roles - Evolutionary Studies of Sexual Size Dimorphism (Paperback): Daphne J. Fairbairn, Wolf U.... Sex, Size and Gender Roles - Evolutionary Studies of Sexual Size Dimorphism (Paperback)
Daphne J. Fairbairn, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Tamas Szekely
R1,659 Discovery Miles 16 590 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Why do males and females frequently differ so markedly in body size and morphology?
Sex, Size, and Gender Roles is the first book to investigate the genetic, developmental, and physiological basis of sexual size dimorphism found within and among the major taxonomic groups of animals. Carefully edited by a team of world-renowned specialists in the field to ensure a coherence of style and approach between chapters, it presents a compendium of studies into the evolution, adaptive significance, and developmental basis of gender differences in body size and morphology. Adaptive hypotheses allude to gender-specific reproductive roles and associated differences in trophic ecologies, life history strategies, and sexual selection. This "adaptationist" approach is balanced by more mechanistic studies of the genetic, developmental and physiological basis of sexual size dimorphism to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the subject. Throughout the volume the emphasis is on sexual dimorphism in overall size; however, the scope of enquiry encompasses gender differences in body shape, the size and structure of secondary sexual characteristics, patterns of growth (ontogeny), and patterns of gene regulation.
This advanced, research level text is suitable for graduate level students and researchers in the fields of evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, physiology, developmental biology, and genetics. It will also be of relevance and use to non-biologists from fields such as anthropology and gender studies.
NEW IN PAPERBACK

The Migration Ecology of Birds (Hardcover, New): Ian Newton The Migration Ecology of Birds (Hardcover, New)
Ian Newton
R3,400 R3,103 Discovery Miles 31 030 Save R297 (9%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This book presents an up-to-date, detailed and thorough review of the most fascinating ecological findings of bird migration. It deals with all aspects of this absorbing subject, including the problems of navigation and vagrancy, the timing and physiological control of migration, the factors that limit their populations, and more. Author, Ian Newton, reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe, including current climate change. This adventurous book places emphasis on ecological aspects, which have received only scant attention in previous publications. Overall, the book provides the most thorough and in-depth appraisal of current information available, with abundant tables, maps and diagrams, and many new insights. Written in a clear and readable style, this book appeals not only to migration researchers in the field and Ornithologists, but to anyone with an interest in this fascinating subject.
* Hot ecological aspects include: various types of bird movements, including dispersal and nomadism, and how they relate to food supplies and other external conditions
* Contains numerous tables, maps and diagrams, a glossary, and a bibliography of more than 2,700 references
* Written by an active researcher with a distinguished career in avian ecology, including migration research

Behavioural Neuroscience (Hardcover): Sean Commins Behavioural Neuroscience (Hardcover)
Sean Commins
R2,727 Discovery Miles 27 270 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Brain and behaviour are intrinsically linked. Animals demonstrate a huge and complex repertoire of behaviours, so how can specific behaviours be mapped onto the complicated neural circuits of the brain? Highlighting the extraordinary advances that have been made in the field of behavioural neuroscience over recent decades, this book examines how behaviours can be understood in terms of their neural mechanisms. Each chapter outlines the components of a particular behaviour, discussing laboratory techniques, the key brain structures involved, and the underpinning cellular and molecular mechanisms. Commins covers a range of topics including learning in a simple invertebrate, fear conditioning, taste aversion, sound localization, and echolocation in bats, as well as more complex behaviours, such as language development, spatial navigation and circadian rhythms. Demonstrating key processes through clear, step-by-step explanations and numerous illustrations, this will be valuable reading for students of zoology, animal behaviour, psychology, and neuroscience.

Incredible Journeys - Sunday Times Nature Book of the Year 2019 (Paperback): David Barrie Incredible Journeys - Sunday Times Nature Book of the Year 2019 (Paperback)
David Barrie 1
R339 R279 Discovery Miles 2 790 Save R60 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

THE SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A compelling investigation of navigation in the animal kingdom.' Mail on Sunday 'David Barrie, who himself has sailed the oceans using a sextant, is passionate about navigation and describes in delightful detail the myriad ways in which animals get around ... eye-opening book.' Frans de Waal, New York Times 'Only a sailor could relate the navigational powers of both humans and animals with such appreciation, excitement, and precision. Thank you, David Barrie, for taking us along on these riveting voyages by sail and wing, hoof and flipper. We arrive surprised, delighted, and awed.' Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus 'Immensely entertaining... [Barrie] is an admirably reliable and assiduous guide to what we do and don't yet know.' Andrew Holgate, Sunday Times 'Barrie has a good eye for colourful detail.' Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday 'This is a must-read for anyone fascinated with the wonders of nature.' Publishers Weekly In Incredible Journeys, award-winning author David Barrie takes us on a tour of the cutting-edge science of animal navigation, where breakthroughs are allowing scientists to unravel, for the first time, how animals as various as butterflies, birds, crustaceans, fish, reptiles and even people find their way. Weaving interviews with leading experts on animal behaviour with the groundbreaking discoveries of Nobel-Prize winning neuroscientists, Barrie shines a light on the astounding skills of animals of every stripe. Dung beetles that steer by the light of the Milky Way. Ants and bees that navigate using patterns of light invisible to humans. Sea turtles, spiny lobsters and moths that find their way using the Earth's magnetic field. Salmon that return to their birthplace by following their noses. Baleen whales that swim thousands of miles while holding a rock-steady course and birds that can locate their nests on a tiny island after crisscrossing an entire ocean. There's a stunning diversity of animal navigators out there, often using senses and skills we humans don't have access to ourselves. For the first time, Incredible Journeys reveals the wonders of these animals in a whole new light.

Through A Window (Paperback, Unabridged edition): Jane Goodall Through A Window (Paperback, Unabridged edition)
Jane Goodall
R338 R278 Discovery Miles 2 780 Save R60 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

From the world-famous expert on chimpanzees - the powerfully compelling sequel to the international bestseller IN THE SHADOW OF MAN: 'An instant animal classic' Time Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind's closest living relatives. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe is a community where the principal residents are chimpanzees. Through Goodall's eyes we watch as the younger chimpanzees vie for power, and how the leaders must deal with this challenge. We learn how one mother successfully rears her children, whilst another appears to doom her offspring to failure. All life is here - glorious births and heart-breaking deaths, moments of brutality, alongside the most tender displays of affection. In THROUGH A WINDOW, as Jane Goodall reveals the story of this intimately intertwined community, we are shown the parallels with human emotions laid bare. Indeed, in the mirror of chimpanzee life, we see ourselves reflected.

The Cuckoos (Hardcover, New): Robert B. Payne The Cuckoos (Hardcover, New)
Robert B. Payne
R3,431 Discovery Miles 34 310 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The cuckoos are the most variable birds in social behavior and parental care: a few cuckoos are among the most social of all birds and rear their young in a common nest; most cuckoos are caring parents that rear their own young with some females laying a few eggs in the nests of others; while many cuckoo species are brood parasites who leave their eggs in the nests of other birds to rear, with their young maturing to kill their foster nestmates. In The Cuckoos, Robert B. Payne presents a new evolutionary history of the family based on molecular genetics, and uses the family tree to explore the origins and diversity of their behaviour. He traces details of the cuckoos' biology to their original sources, includes descriptions of previously unpublished field observations, and reveals new comparisons of songs showing previously overlooked cuckoo species. Lavishly illustrated with specially commissioned color plates and numerous maps, halftones, and line drawings, The Cuckoos provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of this family yet available.

The Psychology of Dog Ownership (Paperback): Theresa Barlow, Craig Roberts The Psychology of Dog Ownership (Paperback)
Theresa Barlow, Craig Roberts
R365 Discovery Miles 3 650 Ships in 9 - 15 working days

What are the benefits of owning a dog on health and well-being? Why does a problem dog behave as it does and how can owners deal with unwanted behaviour? How do dogs communicate with humans and each other? The Psychology of Dog Ownership explores the nature of our unique relationship with dogs and its effect on our mental and physical welfare. The book uses psychological learning theory to examine dog behaviour and highlights the importance of determining between typical dog behaviour and behaviour disorders that need treatment. Focusing on how dog owners can communicate effectively with their pets, and always with the dogsbest interests in mind, The Psychology of Dog Ownership enhances our understanding of the modern human-canine bond and shows how important and enjoyable this relationship can be.

Perturbation, Behavioural Feedbacks, and Population Dynamics in Social Animals - When to leave and where to go (Hardcover):... Perturbation, Behavioural Feedbacks, and Population Dynamics in Social Animals - When to leave and where to go (Hardcover)
Daniel Oro
R2,171 Discovery Miles 21 710 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This novel, transdisciplinary work explains how perturbations (defined as strong disturbances or deviations to a system) can affect the population dynamics of social animals, including ourselves. Social responses to perturbations, especially dispersal processes, can also generate non-linear population dynamics, including the potential appearance of tipping points and critical population transitions, which can in turn lead to catastrophic shifts and collapses. The book describes the links between social behaviour (mainly the use of social information and social copying), and non-linear population dynamics at different spatial scales (local dynamics and meta-population dynamics), and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. Examples from the natural world illustrate each of the main themes (prospecting, habitat suitability, collective dispersal, and cultural evolution). Human warfare and conflict, referred to in several chapters together with quantitative and qualitative examples, is also viewed as a form of perturbation and represents a paradigmatic example of the rationale behind this book. This applicability to our own species is particularly timely, given increased interest in both ecosystem change, human migration, and the global refugee crisis. Perturbation, Behavioural Feedbacks, and Population Dynamics in Social Animals will appeal to applied, theoretical, and evolutionary ecologists, particularly those working on the population and behavioural ecology of any social animal including humans. Its overlap with the study of complexity will also ensure its relevance and use to scientists from other disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, physics, computational science, economics, and mathematics.

Animal Signals (Paperback, New): The Late John Maynard Smith, David Harper Animal Signals (Paperback, New)
The Late John Maynard Smith, David Harper
R2,316 Discovery Miles 23 160 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

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.

Lifestyles and Feeding Biology (Hardcover): Martin Thiel, Les Watling Lifestyles and Feeding Biology (Hardcover)
Martin Thiel, Les Watling
R5,900 Discovery Miles 59 000 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This second volume in the Natural History of the Crustacea series examines how crustaceans-the different body shapes and adaptations of which are described in volume 1-make a living in the wide range of environments they inhabit, and how they exploit food sources. The contributions in the volume give synthetic overviews of particular lifestyles and feeding mechanisms, and offer a fresh look at crustacean life styles through the technological tools that have been applied to recent crustacean research. These include SEM (scanning electron microscope) techniques, micro-optics, and long-term video recordings that have been used for a variety of behavioral studies. The audience will include not only crustacean biologists but evolutionary ecologists who want to understand the diversification of particular life styles, ecologists who follow the succession of communities, biogeochemists who estimate the role of crustaceans in geochemical fluxes, and biologists with a general interest in crustaceans.

Believe It or Snot - The Definitive Field Guide to Earth's Slimy Creatures (Paperback): Nick Caruso, Dani Rabaiotti Believe It or Snot - The Definitive Field Guide to Earth's Slimy Creatures (Paperback)
Nick Caruso, Dani Rabaiotti 1
R264 R214 Discovery Miles 2 140 Save R50 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

A compendium of slimy and repulsive facts from the authors of Does it Fart? What is hyena butter, and would you want to put it on toast? A hagfish can produce how much slime in 60 seconds? Which animal produces a snotty sleeping bag? How does a bubble snail use mucus to get around? Which organism is the slime champion? Find out the answer to these and other slimy facts and more in Believe it or Snot, the new book from the authors of the New York Times bestseller Does it Fart? and the follow-through True or Poo. Slime, sludge, mucus, ooze, goo - it's all covered in here (but at least you're not covered in it).

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