Behavioral Mechanisms in Ecology

by Douglass H. Morse

Overview

This readable text represents a much needed synthesis of ecological insight into animal behavior. The field of behavioral ecology is relatively new, having evolved from a combination of classical ethology, as developed by Lorenz and Tinbergen, and population ecology. Now for the first time, a single author integrates the vast literature on animal ecology and behavior into a conceptual whole.

Exploring the theme of resource acquisitions, Douglass H. Morse combines the comparative approach to biology with models based on evolutionary theory. Secondary consequences of sexual selection and other selective pressures are considered in detail. Discussion of interspecific interactions and constraints is especially rich, as is the treatment of foraging theory, kinship theory, habitat selection and predator avoidance. Perhaps the book’s greatest achievement, however, is its unparalleled ecological and evolutionary analysis of individual differences.

Behavioral Mechanisms in Ecology will meet the teaching and reference needs of an extremely broad audience of professional biologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674064614
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	04/15/1982
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Douglass H. Morse is Hermon Carey Bumpus Professor of Biology, Brown University.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Variability in Foraging Patterns

3. Food Selection

4. Habitat Selection

5. Avoiding Predation

6. Behavioral Thermoregulation and Maintenance

7. Reproduction

8. Competition, Especially for Mates

9. Territoriality

10. Spacing Patterns: Dominance Hierarchies

11. Competition Between Species

12. Social Groups

13. Future Directions

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

Morse, I believe, is the first in two decades to have provided an integrated treatment of the ecological problems of interest to ethologists which at the same time meets the criteria of scholarly thoroughness and accuracy… An essential volume for ecologists!

Ecology - P. H. Klopfer

This synthesis and integration of behavioral ecology into a unified framework will, in my opinion, prove extremely valuable to many evolutionary and ecologically oriented biologists, as well as to any serious student of animal biology. The clear, uncomplicated style of the writing will assure its accessibility to any educated reader.

Richard T. Holmes

This synthesis and integration of behavioral ecology into a unified framework will, in my opinion, prove extremely valuable to many evolutionary and ecologically oriented biologists, as well as to any serious student of animal biology. The clear, uncomplicated style of the writing will assure its accessibility to any educated reader.
— Richard T. Holmes

Dartmouth College