Nearly two feet long with striking black, white, and red plumage, the Ivory-billed and Imperial Woodpeckers were two of the most impressive woodpeckers in the world. Both species were known to be in serious decline by the end of the nineteenth century and are likely extinct today, though occasional reports of sightings persist. While the Ivory-billed was one of the first endangered birds to receive intensive conservation attention, the efforts were too often misdirected, and too little, too late. Concern for the fate of the Imperial Woodpecker came even later and resulted in a similar fate.
The probable extinction of two of North America's largest and most charismatic birds has much to teach us regarding conservation efforts, especially as many other species face similar problems. In closely examining the history of the decline and causes of extinction of the Ivory-billed and Imperial Woodpeckers, the authors offer explanations for the birds' demise and strategies for future conservation and research efforts that focus mainly on the deadly, though largely understated, role of human depredations.

Twentieth century social learning theories radically challenged the popular ideas about the role of nature and nurture in animal existence, particularly primate development and culture. Today, greater appreciation for the emergence and evolution of sociality within and across both taxonomic and technological boundaries has scientists exploring the possibility that, in addition to vertebrates, insects, molluscs, plants, and microbes; even robots, learn from observing and modelling the actions of others. This book presents these and additional exciting new themes to readers through a collection of chapters written by international authorities. The contents of this book bridge scientific revolutions in socio-biology to advance contemporary and perhaps future understandings in diverse topics, such as plant intelligence, robotic active learning, host-pathogen interactions, insect culture, fish and cephalopod mating habits, predator-prey dynamics, microbial socialty, and cognitive ageing.