Models of Adaptive Behaviour: An Approach Based on State

by Alasdair I. Houston, John M. McNamara

Overview

This book sets out a framework for adaptive explanations of behavior, and uses it to provide analyses of a range of biological issues such as energetic gain, energy-predation trade-offs, dynamic games, state-dependent life histories, annual routines, and fluctuating environments. The volume gives a definitive account of this exciting new field, summarizing previous research, presenting new material, and suggesting directions for future research. The framework adopted in this book provides a common currency for comparing diverse actions. Ultimately this could lead to the development of state-dependent dynamic models. This book will be a revelation for graduate students and researchers interested in behavioral or evolutionary biology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521384803
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/19/1999
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Mathematical Biology
Pages:	390
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.29(h) x 1.14(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. States, actions and tradeoffs; 3. Dynamic optimization; 4. Maximizing the energy gained from foraging; 5. Risk-sensitive foraging; 6. The energy-predation trade-off; 7. Dynamic games; 8. State-dependent life history theory; 9. Routines; 10. Life histories in fluctuating environments; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This book should be of interest to theoretical ecologists, and students of ecology wishing to develop their modelling skills. It will be a useful focus for an advanced graduate-level class in behavioural or evolutionary ecology." CSZ Bulletin

"This book should be of interest to theoretical ecologists, and students of ecology wishing to develop their modelling skills. It will be a useful focus for an advanced graduate-level class in behavioural or evolutionary ecology." CSZ Bulletin

"The book is a very valuable contribution to the field and I would certainly encourage anyone working in behavior, or evolutionary biology in general, to have a copy at hand." Ecology

"The review of material is wide and thorough, the employment of techniques such as iterative solutions deft, and the evaluation of different arguments and models (both of the authors' and others) incisive." The Canadian Field-Naturalist

"Models of Adaptive Behaviour makes an imporant contribution...The chapters are threaded together in such a way as to form a well defined and clear tapestry for modeling adaptive behaviour. The book is compactly written, contains much useful information, and provides the reader with many excellent references." Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists

"The review of material is wide and thorough, the employment of techniques such as iterative solutions deft, and the evaluation of different arguments and models (both of the authors' and others) are incisive." The Canadian Field-Naturalist

"Models of Adaptive Behaviour makes an imporant contribution...The chapters are threaded together in such a way as to form a well defined and clear tapestry for modeling adaptive behaviour. The book is compactly written, contains much useful information, and provides the reader with many excellent references." Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists

From the Publisher