Social Evolution in Ants - Couverture rigide

Bourke, Andrew F.G.; Franks, Nigel R.

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0691044279 ISBN 13 : 9780691044279

Editeur : Princeton University Press, 1995

Synopsis

Biologists have long been intrigued and confounded by the complex issues in the evolution and ecology of the social behaviour of insects. The self-sacrifice of sterile workers in ant colonies has been particularly difficult for evolutionary biologists to explain. This text presents an overview of the current state of scientific knowledge about social evolution in ants and shows how studies on ants have contributed to an understanding of many fundamental topics in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology. The book explains kin selection theory and sex ratio theory and their applications to social evolution in insects. Aiming to dispel lingering skepticism about the validity of kin selection and, more broadly, of "selfish gene" theory, the authors show how these ideas underpin the evolution of both co-operation and conflict within ant societies. In addition, using simple algebra, they provide detailed explanations of key mathematical models. Finally, they discuss two relatively little-known topics in ant social biology: life history strategy and mating systems.

A propos du livre

À propos de l?auteur

Andrew Bourke is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Zoology of the Zoological Society of London.Nigel Franks is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, England.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Princeton University Press
• Date d'édition: 1995
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0691044279
• ISBN 13: 9780691044279
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 550
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible