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Psychology Animal Behavior
by
Suzanne Baker

Introduction

This field encompasses the scientific study of the behavior of nonhuman animals. Niko Tinbergen, who won the Nobel Prize in 1973 (along with Karl von Frisch and Konrad Lorenz) for his work in animal behavior, conceptualized the scientific study of animal behavior as encompassing four interrelated questions or levels of analysis. These include questions of proximate cause or mechanism; questions of behavioral development or ontogeny; questions of function or adaptive significance; and questions concerned with the evolution of behavior. This conceptualization of the field remains important in the contemporary study of animal behavior. The field of animal behavior has its roots in the disciplines of psychology, where it was historically conceptualized as comparative psychology, and biology, where it emerged as the subdiscipline of ethology. The contemporary study of animal behavior stretches across several theoretical and applied disciplines, including behavioral ecology, comparative psychology, biological anthropology, wildlife management, veterinary medicine, and others. Researchers in animal behavior investigate a wide range of behaviors, including communication and sensory processes; feeding, foraging, and antipredator behavior; reproductive behavior; social behavior; and the relationship of behavior to the environment. As new technologies have been developed, enabling increasingly detailed data to be collected on behavior, genetics, movement patterns, and populations, our understanding of animal behavior has expanded. The early 21st century has seen an increasing focus on applied topics, including the role of animal behavior in conservation, domestic animal behavior, the behavior of animals in zoo settings, and human–animal interaction.

Reference Works

The works listed here provide background information on basic biology, behavior, and natural history of many species. The Animal Diversity Web is a convenient starting point for students as well as nonscientists seeking basic natural history data on a given species. Species accounts in this continuously updated resource are written by undergraduate students. Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia (Hutchins 2003), also taxonomically organized, provides a wealth of information on natural history as well as behavior. Introductory sections for each major group provide background information at a level suitable for students and for nonscientists seeking animal behavior related information. Unlike the other sources listed here, Breed and Moore 2010, a three-volume encyclopedia, is focused specifically on animal behavior. This work is an extremely useful resource for students as well as scientists interested in up-to-date summaries of research in particular areas. Entries are written by established researchers and are organized thematically. For images and video, the Arkive site is an excellent source. Its primary focus is threatened and endangered species.

  • Animal Diversity Web.

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    Online database containing species accounts for a broad range of animals. A unique feature of this site is that these accounts have been written by undergraduates. Species accounts include information about geographic range and habitat, as well as behavioral data on reproduction, feeding, and communication. An excellent general source.

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    • Arkive: Images of Life on Earth.

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      Online collection of video and photographs of a diverse array of species. Primary focus is on threatened and endangered species, but many nonthreatened species are included as well. An excellent resource for video and pictures.

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      • Breed, Michael D., and Janice Moore, eds. 2010. Encyclopedia of animal behavior. 3 vols. London: Elsevier.

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        This extensive three-volume work consists of over 300 entries written by distinguished scientists in the field. Topical entries are organized into broader subject classifications on such subjects as antipredator behavior and social learning. An essential reference volume for libraries and an excellent source of information for students as well as professionals.

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      • Hutchins, Michael, ed. 2003. Grzimek’s animal life encyclopedia. 17 vols. 2d ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.

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        This seventeen-volume, lavishly illustrated, well-researched encyclopedia contains a wealth of information. Specialist editors have provided introductory material for each major taxon. Introductory sections include information on many aspects of animal behavior for each major group.

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      Textbooks

      The study of animal behavior is interdisciplinary and draws from theory and methods in both psychology and biology. Due to the breadth of topics covered and the expansion of animal behavior research into new areas (e.g., animal personality and conservation), textbooks in this field differ in focus and depth of coverage of specific topics. Alcock 2009; Dugatkin 2009; and Goodenough, et al. 2010 are all excellent undergraduate-level textbooks. Papini 2008, also written for undergraduates, takes a more psychologically oriented approach, including multiple chapters on learning and cognition. Kappeler 2010, an edited volume, is more suitable for upper-level students. Bolhuis and Giraldeau 2005, also an edited volume, includes a section on applied topics. Krebs and Davies 1997 is a classic text in behavioral ecology and includes coverage of life history, population structure, and other topics with a behavioral ecology focus. Ploger and Yasukawa 2003 is a compendium of exercises designed to facilitate an inquiry-based approach to teaching animal behavior.

      • Alcock, John. 2009. Animal behavior: An evolutionary approach. 9th ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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        The longest-running textbook in the field. Chapters cover standard topics in animal behavior, including evolution of behavior, behavioral development, reproductive behavior, feeding, communication, and other major subject areas. One especially notable aspect of this book is its extensive inclusion of color photographs illustrating important concepts.

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      • Bolhuis, Johan J., and Luc-Alain Giraldeau, eds. 2005. The behavior of animals: Mechanisms, function, and evolution. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

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        This book differs from other textbooks in the field in that it is an edited volume. Chapters covering essential topics in animal behavior are included. A unique feature of this book is a section on “Animal Behavior and Human Society,” including chapters on conservation, animal welfare, and human behavior.

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      • Dugatkin, Lee Alan. 2009. Principles of animal behavior. 2d ed. New York: Norton.

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        In addition to chapters on such topics as mating systems, communication, foraging, and antipredator behavior (all fairly standard in animal behavior textbooks), this text also includes separate chapters on play, aging and disease, and personality in nonhumans, making it an attractive option for instructors who focus on these topics.

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      • Goodenough, Judith, Betty McGuire, and Elizabeth Jakob. 2010. Perspectives on animal behavior. 3d ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

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        This well-written, comprehensive textbook covers the standard range of topics in animal behavior. Appropriate for undergraduate-level courses.

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      • Kappeler, Peter, ed. 2010. Animal behaviour: Evolution and mechanisms. Berlin: Springer.

        DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-02624-9Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Upper-level book primarily useful for advanced students. Chapters contributed by experts in the field include up-to-date reviews and current examples of research in a range of areas. Includes chapters on communication, conflict and cooperation, reproductive behavior, and other topics.

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      • Krebs, J. R., and N. B. Davies, eds. 1997. Behavioural ecology: An evolutionary approach. 4th ed. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.

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        Chapters by specialists in the field review up-to-date research on an array of topics, including communication, sexual selection, sperm competition in insects, and other topics in behavioral ecology. Text for upper-level students with some prior background.

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      • Papini, Mauricio R. 2008. Comparative psychology: Evolution and development of behavior. 2d ed. New York: Psychology Press.

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        Includes a heavier focus on learning and development than found in textbooks from a biological perspective. Three chapters discuss learning and cognition, and two chapters focus on infant learning and early social learning. Also includes a chapter on primate evolution.

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      • Ploger, Bonnie J., and Ken Yasukawa, eds. 2003. Exploring animal behavior in laboratory and field: An hypothesis-testing approach to the development, causation, function, and evolution of animal behavior. Amsterdam: Academic.

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        This book is a compendium of hands-on exercises covering a range of topics in animal behavior, including behavioral development, foraging, antipredator behavior, and parental care, among others. Designed to be used as a supplement to traditional textbooks. Appropriate for upper-level undergraduates or more advanced classes.

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      Journals

      The peer-reviewed journals listed here focus on publishing empirical research in animal behavior, broadly defined, as well as papers of theoretical or methodological importance. The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, in collaboration with the Animal Behavior Society, publishes Animal Behaviour, one of the premier journals in the field. Like Animal Behavior, the journals Behaviour and Behavioural Processes also publish research and other articles on a wide range of animal behavior. Behaviour has the distinction of having been founded by Niko Tinbergen and W. H. Thorpe, important figures in the history of animal behavior. The Journal of Comparative Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association, and the International Journal of Comparative Psychology both have their roots in psychology. Both also have a broad scope, publishing both field and laboratory research on a wide range of animal behavior. Behavioral Ecology, the official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology, publishes research that focuses on the wide range of topics in this discipline. In addition to the journals listed here, animal behavior research is published across a wide range of journals in various disciplines in addition to biology and psychology, including animal science, veterinary medicine, wildlife management, and entomology, among others. More specialized journals are listed in later sections of this bibliography.

      Anthologies

      The anthologies listed here will be of interest to a variety of readers. Houck and Drickamer 1996 provides an excellent selection of classic papers, many of which broke ground by introducing new methods. This volume also includes numerous important theoretical and historical papers. This volume and brings together essential readings for serious students of the discipline and for those wishing to understand the historical background of current research. Sherman and Alcock 2010 is useful for those looking for a sampling of research aimed at a general reader. The articles are accessible to beginning students in the field, and the volume was designed to be used as a supplement for an undergraduate course.

      • Houck, Lynne D., and Lee C. Drickamer, eds. 1996. Foundations of animal behavior: Classic papers with commentaries. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Collection of forty-four classic papers that laid the foundation for the scientific study of animal behavior. Includes important theoretical works by Hamilton and Trivers, along with writings by Darwin, Romanes, and Tinbergen, among others.

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      • Sherman, Paul, and John Alcock, eds. 2010. Exploring animal behavior: Readings from American Scientist. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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        This edited volume consists of thirty-eight articles on animal behavior published in American Scientist between 1977 and 2008. Articles are written for the general reader and cover a wide range of topics, including honey bees as a superorganism, avian siblicide, and bower-building in bowerbirds, among many others.

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      Historical Background

      The works listed here examine the history of the contemporary study of animal behavior. Several of these books, including Bolhuis and Verhulst 2009, Burkhart 2005, and Kruuk 2003 focus on the contributions of the “founders” of ethology, particularly the role of Niko Tinbergen, who, along with Konrad Lorenz and Karl von Frisch, won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1973 for their pioneering studies of animal behavior. Bolhuis and Verhulst 2009 brings together a set of articles in commemoration of Tinbergen 1963, in which the author describes the “four questions” approach to the study of animal behavior. Kruuk 2003 presents an engagingly written biography of Tinbergen, while Burkhardt 2005 provides particular insight into the sometimes conflicting viewpoints of Tinbergen and Lorenz and how this shaped contemporary animal behavior as a discipline. Dewsbury 1984 is perhaps the only book-length treatment of the history of comparative psychology. Dewsbury 1989 and Drickamer and Dewsbury 2009 are invaluable sources of autobiographical information on founders and leaders in the field. Lucas and Simmons 2006 provides a collection of reflective essays on the history and future of concepts and research foci in the field.

      • Bolhuis, Johan J., and Simon Verhulst, eds. 2009. Tinbergen’s legacy: Function and mechanism in behavioral biology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511619991Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Collection of eight articles commemorating the publication of Tinbergen 1963, a paper that introduced the “four questions” approach to the study of behavior. A thoughtful introduction discusses the historical context in which Tinbergen wrote his influential paper, and the paper itself is reproduced at the front of the book.

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      • Burkhardt, Richard W. Jr. 2005. Patterns of behavior: Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, and the founding of ethology. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Comprehensive, fascinating treatment of the history of ethology focusing on the contributions, ideas, and theories of two of the field’s most important founding figures.

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      • Dewsbury, Donald A. 1984. Comparative psychology in the twentieth century. Stroudsburg, PA: Hutchinson Ross.

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        History of comparative psychology from a leader in the field. Also includes chapters on key questions and methodological issues. A chapter focusing on important figures in the field includes brief biographical sketches of more than thirty-five influential contributors to the study of animal behavior.

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      • Dewsbury, Donald A., ed. 1989. Studying animal behavior: Autobiographies of the founders. Chicago: Chicago Univ. Press.

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        Autobiographical essays by founders in the field, including Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, Robert Hinde, John Paul Scott, and fifteen others. Interesting insights into the fascination and personal rewards of studying animal behavior.

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      • Drickamer, Lee, and Donald Dewsbury, eds. 2009. Leaders in animal behavior: The second generation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Autobiographical contributions from twenty-one key individuals in the study of animal behavior, each of whom made important contributions to the field between 1985 and 2010. This book is a follow-up to Dewsbury 1989.

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      • Kruuk, Hans. 2003. Niko’s nature: The life of Niko Tinbergen and his science of animal behaviour. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Extensive, detailed biography on one of the founders of the scientific study of animal behavior, written by one of his longtime friends and students. Covers Tinbergen’s youth, development of ethology, and years at Oxford.

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      • Lucas, Jeffrey R., and Leigh W. Simmons, eds. 2006. Essays in animal behaviour: Celebrating 50 years of Animal Behaviour. Boston: Elsevier Academic.

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        This volume, compiled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the journal Animal Behaviour, consists of nineteen chapters written by experts in diverse fields. Rather than technical summaries of research, the chapters are reflective essays on the history and future of the field.

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      • Tinbergen, Niko. 1963. On aims and methods of ethology. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 20.4: 410–433.

        DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1963.tb01161.xSave Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        In this highly influential paper by one of ethology’s founding fathers, Tinbergen presented the “four questions” framework for the study of animal behavior. Tinbergen’s conceptualization of ethology as concerned with questions of proximate cause, development, function, and evolution remains influential in the contemporary study of animal behavior.

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      Methods and Techniques

      A number of sources are available to provide guidance on methods for both beginning and advanced researchers in animal behavior. Altmann 1974 was an influential paper that laid a foundation for systematizing observational data collection methods. Martin and Bateson 2007 is an excellent primer for beginning students. Dawkins 2007 is more extensive and emphasizes observational methods. Lehner 1996 provides more technical details and treats analysis at a more advanced level. All of these texts are excellent references for more experienced researchers as well. Croft, et al. 2008 and Whitehead 2008 are advanced books that explore methodological and statistical techniques for analyzing social networks.

      • Altmann, J. 1974. Observational study of behavior: Sampling methods. Behaviour 49.3–4: 227–267.

        DOI: 10.1163/156853974X00534Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        One of the most frequently cited articles in animal behavior, this classic paper helped lay the foundation for the development of systematic observational research methods.

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      • Croft, Darren P., Richard James, and Jens Krause. 2008. Exploring animal social networks. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        Concise and very useful handbook on social network analysis techniques. A step-by-step introduction to these techniques, including illustrative examples. An excellent reference for researchers, even those with no background in social network analysis.

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      • Dawkins, Marian Stamp. 2007. Observing animal behaviour: Design and analysis of quantitative controls. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198569350.001.0001Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Concise, accessible handbook of observational animal behavior research methods. Designed to take new researchers through the stages of planning and carrying out observational research studies.

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      • Lehner, Philip N. 1996. Handbook of ethological methods. 2d ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Excellent handbook for beginning researchers and a useful reference for experienced scientists. Although the chapter on equipment is outdated due to major technological advances since its publication, the multiple examples of data collection and basic statistical techniques make this book essential.

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      • Martin, Paul, and Patrick Bateson. 2007. Measuring behaviour: An introductory guide. 3d ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Concise, clearly written handbook of basic techniques. Includes useful samples of data collection methods. Ideal for students and an excellent reference for professionals.

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      • Whitehead, Hal. 2008. Analyzing animal societies: Quantitative methods for vertebrate social analysis. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Advanced technical handbook for quantitative analysis of social structure. Numerous boxes throughout the book explicate key points, and sample data analyses from published literature make this a highly useful reference.

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      Communication

      The study of communication in nonhuman species is an extremely active research area. Studies range from examination of sensory processes and brain mechanisms, to functions of communication such as providing honest signals of intent or reproductive status. Bradbury and Vehrencamp 1998 and Searcy and Nowicki 2005 both provide overviews. Bradbury and Vehrencamp 1998 takes a more comprehensive, textbook approach, while Searcy and Nowicki 2005 focuses on signaling functions of communication. A tremendous amount of research has been carried out on birdsong; Marler and Slabbekoorn 2004 provides an excellent introduction to this wide-ranging literature. Drosopoulos and Claridge 2006, an edited volume, focuses on the role of sound in insect communication; the authors supplement the book with a DVD that allows readers to hear and see some of the many species they discuss. Gerhard and Huber 2002 provides a wealth of technical detail on sound communication in insects and anurans. Wilson and Bossert 1963 is a seminal paper that laid the foundation for later studies of pheromones and chemical communication, while Wyatt 2003 provides a contemporary look at the research in this area. Hill 2008 provides an overview of vibrational communication and gives a sense of this less well-studied yet widespread channel of communication.

      • Bradbury, Jack W., and Sandra L. Vehrencamp. 1998. Principles of animal communication. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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        Textbook treatment of animal communication. Covers signal production and transmission, information transfer, and game theory analysis of communication. At 800+ pages, this is a detailed and comprehensive overview for advanced students and researchers.

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      • Drosopoulos, Sakis, and Michael F. Claridge, eds. 2006. Insect sounds and communication: Physiology, behaviour, ecology, and evolution. Boca Raton, FL: CRC.

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        Comprehensive overview of insect-produced sounds, including more than thirty chapters that cover auditory communication across a wide range of insects. An important resource for students and researchers in insect communication as well as for a more general animal behavior audience. Includes a DVD with video and sound of many species discussed.

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      • Gerhardt, H. Carl, and Franz Huber. 2002. Acoustic communication in insects and anurans: Common problems and diverse solutions. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Overview of acoustic communication in this diverse group. Includes chapters on physiological mechanisms in sound production as well as chorusing, acoustic competition, and the role of acoustic signals in female choice. Contains a wealth of technical detail.

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      • Hill, Peggy S. M. 2008. Vibrational communication in animals. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.

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        Concise, well-written overview of this channel of communication. Includes chapters on the role of vibrational communication in mating, predator-prey interactions, and group communication. Opening chapters discuss the usefulness of vibration as a channel for information transfer, as well as mechanisms for sending and receiving vibrational signals.

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      • Marler, Peter, and Hans William Slabbekoorn, eds. 2004. Nature’s music: The science of birdsong. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic.

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        Each chapter of this excellent volume is an overview of an important aspect of birdsong written by an expert in the field. This book differs from several others on this topic in that it is directed toward general readers as well as animal behavior scientists. Packaged with two companion CDs.

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      • Searcy, William A., and Stephen Nowicki. 2005. The evolution of animal communication: Reliability and deception in signaling systems. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        Well-written, well-organized treatment of a central question in the contemporary study of animal communication, namely, the extent to which signals are reliable indicators that convey accurate information, as opposed to manipulative signals.

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      • Wilson, Edward O., and William H. Bossert. 1963. Chemical communication among animals. Recent Progress in Hormone Research 19:673–716.

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        Historically important article that influenced the development of research on insect pheromones and the communicative functions of odors.

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      • Wyatt, Tristam D. 2003. Pheromones and animal behaviour: Communication by smell and taste. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511615061Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Detailed, well-researched introduction to pheromonal communication for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers. Covers the multiple contexts in which chemical communication occurs, including reproductive behavior, marking and territoriality, and aggregation across a wide range of species. Helpful appendices provide some basics for readers with less extensive backgrounds in chemistry.

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      Learning and Cognitive Processes

      The question of what animals know, understand, and can think about has fascinated researchers from all areas of the discipline of animal behavior. Pearce 2008 provides an excellent introduction for those looking for an overview of research in this area. Shettleworth 2009 is an excellent and highly regarded volume that provides a more detailed treatment. Wasserman and Zentall 2006, an edited work, is an excellent overview of current research in this field. Dukas and Ratcliffe 2009 on cognitive ecology examines cognition in ecological context across a range of taxa. Cognition and learning have been examined in a wide array of species. For example, Brown, et al. 2006 examines multiple aspects of cognitive processes in fish, while Pepperberg 1999 provides a detailed examination of cognitive capabilities in an individual African grey parrot. Nonhuman primates have also been the focus of extensive research on cognition. Cheney and Seyfarth 1990 and Cheney and Seyfarth 2007 draw on a wealth of field experience to shed light on what behavior can tell us about cognitive processes in vervet monkeys and baboons.

      • Brown, Culum, Kevin Laland, and Jens Krause, eds. 2006. Fish cognition and behavior. Oxford: Blackwell.

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        Fourteen contributed chapters examine a wide range of fish behavior and the role of cognitive processes. Chapters cover basic topics such as the role of learning in foraging, antipredator behavior, and mate choice, as well as intriguing examinations of social learning and cooperation in fish. An applied chapter addresses the role of learning in aquaculture.

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      • Cheney, Dorothy L., and Robert M. Seyfarth. 1990. How monkeys see the world: Inside the mind of another species. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Classic study of cognitive processes in vervet monkeys, based on the authors’ extensive field studies.

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      • Cheney, Dorothy L., and Robert M. Seyfarth. 2007. Baboon metaphysics: The evolution of a social mind. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Thought-provoking discussion of baboon cognitive capabilities, based on many years of extensive and careful field research. Insightful, fascinating, and well written. A must-read for those interested in primate social cognition and its role in behavior.

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      • Dukas, Reuven, and John M. Ratcliffe, eds. 2009. Cognitive ecology II. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Contributed chapters cover cognitive processes across a range of taxa. Learning in insects, avian cognition, and cognitive processes in social organization and behavior are covered by experts in the field. Excellent edited volume that gives the reader a flavor for current research and thinking in this field.

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      • Pearce, John M. 2008. Animal learning & cognition: An introduction. 3d ed. London: Psychology Press.

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        Textbook providing a clear and comprehensive review of findings in animal cognition. Covers a wide range of topics, including associative and instrumental learning processes, as well as categorization, social learning, navigation, and communication. Provides students with an excellent overview of recent work in animal cognition.

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      • Pepperberg, Irene Maxine. 1999. The Alex studies: Cognitive and communicative abilities of grey parrots. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.

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        An important case study in the field of animal cognition, this book provides a comprehensive review of research done on Alex, an African grey parrot, up to the date of its publication.

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      • Shettleworth, Sara J. 2009. Cognition, evolution, and behavior. 2d ed. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Thoroughly updated version of this comprehensive treatment of cognitive processes across a wide range of taxa. Extensively researched. Important reading for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in cognitive processes in animal behavior.

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      • Wasserman, Edward, and Thomas Zentall, eds. 2006. Comparative cognition: Experimental explorations of animal intelligence. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Collection of chapters by experts in the field reviewing a wide range of cognitive processes. Includes chapters on problem solving, spatial cognition, tool-making and use, and social cognition, among other topics. Provides an excellent overview of the state-of-the-art in the field.

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      Proximate Mechanisms

      Proximate mechanisms include neural, hormonal, and physiological influences on behavior. Simmons and Young 2010 provides a clear and well-written introduction to this aspect of animal behavior. Neural mechanisms in birdsong production are examined in Zeigler and Marler 2008. Dunlap, et al. 2004 examines a different mechanism, that of the role of biological rhythms in behavior. This edited volume is useful for those interested not only in behavior but also the physiological underpinnings of circadian, annual, and other biological rhythms.

      • Dunlap, Jay C., Jennifer J. Loros, and Patricia J. DeCoursey, eds. 2004. Chronobiology: Biological timekeeping. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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        Integrative edited volume includes chapters examining important factors in biological rhythms in both humans and nonhuman species. Molecular biology and physiology of pacemaker systems are examined in some chapters, while others examine behavioral ecology of biological rhythms. A final chapter treats applied topics in human circadian rhythms.

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      • Simmons, Peter, and David Young. 2010. Nerve cells and animal behaviour. 3d ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Concise and clearly written introduction to neuroethology designed for undergraduates in biology, psychology, and zoology. Carefully selected and detailed examples, including both simple responses and complex behavior patterns, demonstrate how nervous systems control behavior.

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      • Zeigler, H. Philip, and Peter Marler, eds. 2008. Neuroscience of birdsong. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Chapters by specialists in the field provide a comprehensive summary of the current state of the neurobiology of birdsong. One section includes personal reminiscences by prominent birdsong researchers that provide a glimpse into the history of this important area of animal behavior research.

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      Feeding, Foraging, and Antipredator Behavior

      Feeding, foraging, and antipredator behavior are broad categories that encompass an entire range of behavior involved with searching for, finding, acquiring, and processing food, as well as avoiding falling prey to other animals. The three volumes listed here provide comprehensive overviews of this large research literature. Stephens, et al. 2007, an edited volume, covers multiple aspects of foraging behavior, while Caro 2005 provides a treatment of antipredator defenses. Ruxton, et al. 2004 provides a different perspective, focusing on specialized defense mechanisms such as mimicry, various types of camouflage, and warning signals. Pyke 2010 is a helpful source for those needing an introduction to the basic concepts of optimal foraging theory.

      • Caro, Timothy Martin. 2005. Antipredator defenses in birds and mammals. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Comprehensive, upper-level treatment of antipredator mechanisms and behaviors by a leading researcher in this field. Extensively researched and supplemented with numerous figures and tables from published studies.

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      • Pyke, G. H. 2010. Optimal foraging theory: Introduction. In Encyclopedia of animal behavior. Vol. 2. Edited by Michael D. Breed and Janice Moore, 601–603. London: Elsevier.

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        Concise, up-to-date introduction to the basics of optimal foraging theory by an expert in this field.

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      • Ruxton, Graeme D., Thomas N. Sherratt, and Michael P. Speed. 2004. Avoiding attack: The evolutionary ecology of crypsis, warning signals, and mimicry. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Chapters discuss Batesian and Mullerian mimicry, warning coloration, and other evolved mechanisms such as chemical defenses, countershading, and background matching. Three chapters provide detailed discussion of the role of warning signals and displays.

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      • Stephens, David W., Joel S. Brown, and Ronald C. Ydenberg, eds. 2007. Foraging: Behavior and ecology. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Comprehensive edited volume covering multiple aspects of foraging, including neuroethology, social aspects, and cognitive processes. Extensive figures and specialized material set off in boxes add to the usefulness of this book.

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      Migration and the Ecology of Spatial Distribution

      Although many animals engage in migrations, the bulk of research on this topic has focused on large-scale migrations in avian species. Newton 2008 provides an up-to-date, richly detailed survey of the vast literature in this field. The edited volume Berthold, et al. 2003 includes contributed chapters on specific topics from experts in this field. Ruckstuhl and Neuhaus 2005 examines a different aspect of spatial distribution. Contributed chapters in the book examine spatial segregation between males and females of a population, along with ecological and behavioral implications for this type of spatial behavior.

      • Berthold, Peter, Eberhard Gwinner, and Edith Sonnenschein, eds. 2003. Avian migration. Berlin: Springer.

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        Comprehensive overview of avian migration consisting of thirty-nine contributed chapters covering evolution, morphological adaptations for migration, mechanisms of orientation and navigation, and other topics.

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      • Newton, Ian. 2008. The migration ecology of birds. London: Elsevier-Academic.

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        Detailed, extensively researched overview of avian migration. Contains numerous tables and figures detailing many aspects of bird migration.

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      • Ruckstuhl, Kathreen, and Peter Neuhaus, eds. 2005. Sexual segregation in vertebrates: Ecology of the two sexes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Contributed chapters examine spatial segregation between males and females across a wide range of vertebrates, including bats, ungulates, nonhuman primates, and humans. Sexual segregation has implications for multiple factors in animal behavior, including reproductive behavior, foraging, and conservation, all of which are covered in this volume.

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      Reproductive Behavior

      The study of reproductive behavior in nonhuman animals encompasses a vast research literature. This is a very active area of research encompassing a wide range of behavior and theory. Sexual selection, sex allocation, and mating systems have all received a great deal of research attention. The works cited here provide an overview of the large and continuously expanding body of research and theory in this area.

      Sex Allocation

      Research in sex allocation examines how parents invest resources in the production of male and female offspring. Charnov 1982 integrates ideas from a diverse range of literature into a theory of adaptive sex ratio allocation, in the process influencing a great deal of research on this topic. West 2009, a more recent volume, provides an updated review of research in the field and is excellent reading for those desiring an understanding of the current state of knowledge in this area.

      Sexual Selection

      Research on sexual selection examines selection processes in mating and explores what factors influence individual mating success. Trivers 1972 was an influential paper that related males’ and females’ differing reproductive strategies to anisogamy and laid the theoretical groundwork for much of the research that followed in this area. Andersson 1994 provides a good introduction to theory in this area, as well as interesting case studies. For those primarily interested in primates, Kappeler and van Schaik 2004 provides a sampling of research on sexual selection in this group. Male and female reproductive strategies typically conflict, and Arnqvist and Rowe 2005 focuses on conflict between males and females in the context of sexual selection. The edited volume Oliveira, et al. 2008 presents a wide array of research on alternative tactics in sexual selection. Birkhead and Møller 1998 provides a comprehensive and fascinating look at the array of sperm competition strategies across a wide range of taxa. Simmons 2001 also tackles sperm competition and provides an in-depth look at these processes in insects. Eberhard 1996 provides an overview of mechanisms of cryptic female choice, as well as a survey of examples indicating the prevalence of cryptic female choice.

      • Andersson, M. 1994. Sexual selection. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        Major review of sexual selection theory. Includes chapters on methods for studying sexual selection and case studies of a range of species, including katydids, red-winged blackbirds, elephant seals, and red deer. Sexual selection in relation to mating system and parental care are also covered.

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      • Arnqvist, Göran, and Locke Rowe. 2005. Sexual conflict. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        Examines conflict between males and females in the context of sexual selection. Examines conflict between males and females both before and after mating and the role that conflict plays in parental care. An advanced book that is primarily useful to graduate students and researchers in this field.

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      • Birkhead, T., and A. P. Møller, eds. 1998. Sperm competition and sexual selection. San Diego, CA: Academic.

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        Edited volume with chapters on an array of topics related to sperm competition, including the role of females, mating conflicts, and paternity and paternal care. Much of the book consists of a series of taxonomically focused chapters, covering sperm competition in a wide range of taxa, including mollusks, arachnids, insects, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.

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      • Eberhard, William G. 1996. Female control: Sexual selection by cryptic female choice. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

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        Reviews the research literature on cryptic female choice, including mechanisms of cryptic choice, as well as evidence that cryptic choice is in operation in a wide range of mating systems.

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      • Kappeler, P., and C. van Schaik, eds. 2004. Sexual selection in primates: New and comparative perspectives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511542459Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Chapters in this edited volume examine multiple facets of sexual selection in nonhuman primates. Sexual signals, mating conflict, sex ratios, and alternative male strategies are all covered.

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      • Oliveira, Rui, F., Michael Taborsky, and H. Jane Brockmann, eds. 2008. Alternative reproductive tactics: An integrated approach. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511542602Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Twenty contributed chapters examine numerous aspects of alternative mating strategies across a range of species. Topics include genetic and neuroendocrine mechanisms, communication, and cooperative breeding. A taxonomic survey of alternative tactics includes chapters on mammals, birds, insects, crustaceans, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and primates.

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      • Simmons, Leigh W. 2001. Sperm competition and its evolutionary consequences in the insects. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        In-depth treatment of sperm competition in this group. Covers morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations for the avoidance of sperm competition, as well as mechanisms such as copulatory plugs, variation in sperm morphology, and the role of female choice.

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      • Trivers, Robert L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection. In Sexual selection and the descent of man, 1871–1971. Edited by Bernard G. Campbell, 136–179. Chicago: Aldine.

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        This classic and highly influential article examines the relationships among anisogamy, male and female reproductive strategies, and parental investment.

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      Mating Systems and Parental Investment

      Mating systems and parental investment strategies are interwoven with one another, such that some mating systems are associated with exclusive care by one sex, while others are associated with biparental care. A variety of research examines mating systems across different groups of animals. For example, the edited volume Choe and Crespi 1997 examines the huge diversity of mating systems among insects and arachnids. Koenig and Dickinson 2004 provides an in-depth view of cooperative breeding systems in birds, while Reichard and Boesch 2003 focuses on monogamy across a wide range of species. Hagar and Jones 2009 includes contributions examining reproductive skew theory in a variety of species.

      • Choe, Jae C., and Bernard J. Crespi, eds. 1997. The evolution of mating systems in insects and arachnids. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Twenty-one chapters from researchers in this field address the diversity of mating systems in insects and arachnids. A wide range of taxa is considered, including jumping spiders, parasitoid wasps, moths, fireflies, butterflies, and others.

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      • Hager, Reinmar, and Clara B. Jones, eds. 2009. Reproductive skew in vertebrates: Proximate and ultimate causes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511641954Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Contributed chapters by experts in the field provide a background on reproductive skew theory and reviews of its application to several vertebrate taxa. Includes chapters on a variety of animals, including fish, African mole rats, horses and zebras, marmots, birds, and primates.

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      • Koenig, Walter D., and Janis L. Dickinson, eds. 2004. Ecology and evolution of cooperative breeding in birds. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511606816Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Fourteen contributed chapters examine aspects of cooperative breeding, including reproductive skew, dispersal patterns, the role of helpers, sex ratio manipulation, and other topics.

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      • Reichard, Ulrich H., and Christophe Boesch, eds. 2003. Monogamy: Mating strategies and partnerships in birds, humans, and other mammals. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Chapters examine contemporary research on social monogamy in birds, rodents, and ungulates, as well as human and nonhuman primates. Provides an overview of current research on monogamous mating systems.

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      Evolution of Social Behavior

      Several important theoretical papers have contributed greatly to current thinking and approaches to the study of social behavior among nonhumans. Hamilton 1964 was a landmark paper that introduced the concepts of kin selection and inclusive fitness. The ideas generated by this work touched off a flood of new research on the role of kinship in behavior across a wide range of species. Game theory has also emerged as an important tool in the understanding of social behavior evolution. Axelrod and Hamilton 1981 explains how game theory models, specifically the prisoner’s dilemma scenario, can shed light on cooperative behavior in animals and was hugely influential. Yasukawa 2010 provides a concise introduction to the uses of game theory in interpreting animal social behavior, useful for newcomers to these ideas in animal behavior. Dugatkin 1997 provides a lucid introduction to these ideas that would be suitable for advanced undergraduates.

      • Axelrod, Robert, and William D. Hamilton. 1981. The evolution of cooperation. Science 211:1390–1396.

        DOI: 10.1126/science.7466396Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Uses concepts from game theory, specifically the prisoner’s dilemma scenario, to explore and explain how cooperation can evolve in social animals. Available online for purchase or by subscription.

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      • Dugatkin, Lee Alan. 1997. Cooperation among animals: An evolutionary perspective. Oxford series in ecology and evolution. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Examines the range of cooperation in animals, including reciprocity, mutualism, and the role of kinship. A chapter on theoretical perspectives clearly lays out the basis for cooperation. Separate chapters treat cooperative interactions in fish, birds, insects, and mammals.

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      • Hamilton, William D. 1964. The genetical evolution of social behaviour I. Journal of Theoretical Biology 7.1: 1–16.

        DOI: 10.1016/0022-5193(64)90038-4Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        This classic paper introduced the concepts of kin selection and inclusive fitness and inspired research into kinship effects on behavior across a wide range of species. Statistically challenging but well worth the investment of time to digest this classic work. Available online for purchase or by subscription.

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      • Yasukawa, K. 2010. Game theory. In Encyclopedia of animal behavior. Vol. 2. Edited by Michael D. Breed and Janice Moore, 1–5. London: Elsevier.

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        Concise introduction to game theory and its role in interpreting social behavior. Includes discussion of the hawk-dove game and the prisoner’s dilemma.

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      Social Organization and Group Living

      Social organization and group living is an important focus for much research in animal behavior. The books listed here examine aspects of the costs and benefits of living in groups and social processes involved in group living. Krause and Ruxton 2002 presents a comprehensive look at these costs and benefits. Conflict and aggression are an inevitable part of group living, and Bernstein 2010 provides a concise introduction to the dominance relationships and hierarchies that characterize many social groups. Much of the research in this area focuses on nonhuman primates, due to their complex and interesting social behaviors. Kappeler and van Schaik 2006 examines cooperative behavior in nonhuman primates in all its forms, and the role this plays in social organization. Chapais and Berman 2004 looks at the role of kinship in social structure and organization in primates. Aureli and de Waal 2000 also focuses on primates; the authors examine multiple aspects of the inevitable conflicts and competition that occur when animals live in groups. Choe and Crespi 1997 focuses on a different group—insects—and provides a fascinating look at the range of social behavior in this large and highly variable taxon. Laland and Galef 2009 covers cultural processes and traditions in animal groups, while Sumpter 2010 examines collective behavior in animals, including group movements, collective decision making, and a host of interesting topics, and demonstrates mathematical modeling techniques that can be used to elucidate collective group behavior.

      • Aureli, Filippo, and F. B. M. de Waal, eds. 2000. Natural conflict resolution. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press.

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        Eighteen chapters by researchers in this field examine conflict resolution in both human and nonhuman primates. Topics include social systems that control aggression (e.g., dominance hierarchies), reconciliation patterns, and the role of the environment.

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      • Bernstein, I. S. 2010. Dominance relationships, dominance hierarchies, and rankings. In Encyclopedia of animal behavior. Vol. 1. Edited by Michael D. Breed and Janice Moore, 568–572. London: Elsevier.

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        Concise introduction to dominance hierarchies and related concepts.

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      • Chapais, Bernard, and Carol M. Berman, eds. 2004. Kinship and behavior in primates. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Includes excellent review chapters on multiple aspects of the role of kinship in primate behavior. Topics covered include methodological issues, kin recognition and kin bias, and the role of kin relationships in group structure, group organization, and mating. Also includes a section on human kinship.

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      • Choe, Jae C., and Bernard J. Crespi, eds. 1997. The evolution of social behavior in insects and arachnids. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        The twenty-four contributed chapters in this volume provide fascinating accounts of social behavior across a wide range of insects and arachnids. Ants, wasps, bees, and termites are featured, but the book also contains chapters on colonial web-building spiders, Hemipterans, aphids, burying beetles, and others.

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      • Kappeler, Peter M., and Carel P. van Schaik, eds. 2006. Cooperation in primates: Mechanisms and evolution. New York: Springer.

        DOI: 10.1007/3-540-28277-7Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Chapters from a distinguished list of contributors examine multiple forms of cooperative behavior, including kin-based altruism, reciprocal altruism, mutualism, male–male coalitions, cooperative breeding, and non-offspring nursing.

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      • Krause, Jens, and Graeme D. Ruxton. 2002. Living in groups. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Thorough treatment of costs and benefits of group living, as well as group size, environmental effects on group behavior, and other topics.

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      • Laland, Kevin N., and Bennett G. Galef, eds. 2009. The question of animal culture. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.

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        Brings together chapters from leading researchers examining culture in nonhuman animals. Most chapters focus on nonhuman primates, specifically great apes. A scientifically based look at what culture is and how we would know whether nonhumans have it.

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      • Sumpter, David J. 2010. Collective animal behavior. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

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        Examines a range of collective behaviors in animals, including aggregation, information transfer, travel and migration, and collective decision making. Demonstrates applications of theory and mathematical modeling and simulation techniques in the understanding of these behaviors.

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      Taxonomic Group Studies

      In the study of animal behavior, it is not unusual for a researcher to spend his or her entire career in the study of a single species or taxonomic group. This type of long-term focus can result in a rich, in-depth research literature on behavior of a species or taxon. Works such as these are useful for their detailed explications of behavior, for comparing behavior across species, and for demonstrating how theories and concepts can be applied to the interpretation of the behavior of a single species or taxonomic group. The following books are a sampling of this voluminous literature. Altringham 1996 examines in detail the behavior and ecology of bats, while Hanlon and Messenger 1996 takes on the same task for the less-understood cephalopods. Both are excellent introductions to these groups. Mech and Boitani 2003, an edited volume, provides a masterful overview of multiple aspects of wolf behavior and biology. Hölldobler and Wilson 1990, a lengthy, detailed, and richly illustrated work on ants, is widely viewed as a classic. Three of the books listed here (Boesch and Boesch-Achermann 2000; Campbell, et al. 2007; Maestripieri 2005) focus on nonhuman primates. While Boesch and Boesch-Achermann 2000 provides an in-depth look at behavior and ecology of chimpanzees, Campbell, et al. 2007 covers the range of behavior across primates. Maestripieri 2005 takes a different look at primates, specifically through the lens of contemporary methods and concepts in psychology.

      • Altringham, John D. 1996. Bats: Biology and behaviour. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Excellent, well-written treatise covering such topics as flight, echolocation, reproductive and social behavior, as well as ecology and conservation. Written primarily for undergraduate and graduate students but useful for a wide audience desiring an introduction to this important and fascinating group of mammals.

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      • Boesch, Christophe, and Hedwige Boesch-Achermann. 2000. The chimpanzees of the Tai forest: Behavioral ecology and evolution. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Monograph reporting on sixteen years of field observations of chimpanzees in the Tai forest, including data on social relationships, reproductive behavior, aggression and territoriality, hunting, and tool use. A valuable addition to the understanding of chimpanzees in the wild.

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      • Campbell, Christina J., Agustín Fuentes, Katherine C. MacKinnon, Melissa Panger, and Simon K. Bearder, eds. 2007. Primates in perspective. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        The forty-nine contributed chapters in this volume provide an inclusive, up-to-date overview of the current state of understanding of nonhuman primates. One section focuses on taxonomic groups, while other sections treat methodology, ecology, reproduction, and social behavior and intelligence. An excellent resource for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.

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      • Hanlon, Roger T., and John B. Messenger. 1996. Cephalopod behaviour. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Fascinating account of behavior of this interesting group of animals by two researchers who specialize in cephalopod behavior. Includes chapters on reproductive behavior, feeding and foraging, and communication. Numerous photographs, figures, and tables add to the value of the text.

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      • Hölldobler, B., and Edward O. Wilson. 1990. The ants. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.

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        Definitive, comprehensive, highly regarded work on this widespread group of animals. Accessible to nonscientists as well as scientists. An extremely important book by two eminent researchers in the field.

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      • Maestripieri, Dario, ed. 2005. Primate psychology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.

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        Takes an integrative look at the behavior of both human and nonhuman primates, using theory and concepts from psychology. Chapters cover a wide range of behavior, including aggression and conflict resolution, sexual behavior, personality, communication and language, and cognition.

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      • Mech, L. David, and Luigi Boitani, eds. 2003. Wolves: Behavior, ecology, and conservation. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.

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        Thirteen contributed chapters provide a comprehensive look at the behavior and ecology of wolves. Topics include social behavior, communication, and interactions with prey, as well as wolf conservation and recovery, and a chapter on wolves and humans.

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      Animal Behavior and Conservation

      As animal populations decline worldwide, an increasing amount of research has begun to focus on the conservation implications of animal behavior. Attempts to apply an understanding of animal behavior to conservation and management policies are becoming more common. The journals Animal Conservation and Biological Conservation are both excellent sources to examine recent literature addressing these questions. Festa-Bianchet and Apollonio 2003 provides an overview of issues and case studies in this field, whereas Blumstein and Fernandez-Juricic 2010 offers a practical handbook on using knowledge about behavior in conservation and management contexts. Macdonald and Loveridge 2010 focuses exclusively on wild felids and provides a detailed look at conservation of many species in this taxon.

      • Animal Conservation.

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        The journal Animal Conservation publishes original research on a variety of topics related to the conservation of animals and their habitats. According to the journal’s website, it is directed toward “conservation biologists, policy-makers, and students.”

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      • Biological Conservation.

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        The journal Biological Conservation publishes recent research across the broad range of conservation biology. Although some articles are strictly focused on policy, many studies published in this journal focus on the relationship between animal behavior and various aspects of conservation.

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      • Blumstein, Daniel T., and Estaban Fernandez-Juricic. 2010. A primer of conservation behavior. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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        Guide to using behavior data to assist in conservation decisions. Aimed at wildlife biologists, conservation professionals, and students interested in applying an understanding of animal behavior to conservation. Addresses the roles of habitat selection, foraging behavior, communication, and social organization.

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      • Festa-Bianchet, Marco, and Marco Apollonio, eds. 2003. Animal behavior and wildlife conservation. Washington, DC: Island.

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        Edited volume examining the role of animal behavior in conservation and wildlife management. Migration, feeding ecology, and sexual behavior strategies are all treated in various chapters. Most chapters focus on mammals, although sea turtles and birds are also featured.

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      • Macdonald, David W., and Andrew J. Loveridge, eds. 2010. Biology and conservation of wild felids. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Comprehensive edited volume containing review chapters on such topics as felid society and techniques for studying wild felids. Case studies of a wide range of species, including Scottish wildcats, Amur tigers, African lions, and Florida panthers make this book an essential volume for those interested in the conservation of felids worldwide.

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      Applied Animal Behavior

      Applied research in animal behavior has become more prevalent in the early 21st century. Researchers now turn their interest to the behavior of animals in nonwild settings, such as zoos, laboratories, and farms. The effects of various rearing, housing, and care regimes are examined, as well as issues related to reproduction (e.g., captive breeding of endangered species). Along with an interest in the behavior of these animals comes an increasing focus on welfare and well-being of animals in nonwild settings of all types. The behavior of companion animals, and the spectrum of human-animal interactions, are increasingly active research areas. Applied Animal Behaviour Science is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes applied research on animal behavior, including companion animals, farm animals, and animals in zoos and laboratory settings.

      • Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

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        Official journal of the International Society for Applied Ethology. Publishes research on the behavior of domestic animals (including both companion animals and farm animals), as well as studies of other applied topics such as animals in zoos and research settings. Studies of wild animals that focus on applied questions (e.g., wildlife management, conservation) are also published.

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      Companion, Domestic, and Laboratory Animal Behavior

      For much of the history of the study of animal behavior, little research was focused on laboratory animals, farm animals, or companion animals. However, this has changed and we have witnessed an increase in research on, and interest in, the behavior of these species. Beaver 2003 and Turner and Bateson 2000 have synthesized current literature on domestic cat behavior. Both books are directed toward an advanced audience of veterinarians, veterinary students, or upper-level students of animal behavior. Miklósi 2007 and Jensen 2007 are on a similar level and focus on dog behavior. Both Houpt 2005 and Jensen 2009 survey the research literature on a wide range of domestic species, making them useful references for veterinarians, animal scientists, and others who must deal with multiple species. Whishaw and Kolb 2005 combines in a single volume a huge wealth of information on Norway rats. This book is of tremendous value to those who work with laboratory rats and need a reliable guide to the voluminous literature on this species.

      • Beaver, Bonnie V. 2003. Feline behavior: A guide for veterinarians. 2d ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders.

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        Although directed primarily at veterinarians, this book features chapters on communication, social behavior, and sexual behavior that will also be of interest to other scientists interested in the behavior of domestic cats.

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      • Houpt, Katherine Albro. 2005. Domestic animal behavior for veterinarians and animal scientists. 4th ed. Ames, IA: Blackwell.

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        Covers both farm animal (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) and companion animal (dogs, cats, horses) species. Although this book is primarily written for veterinarians and animal scientists, it conveniently brings together information about several species in one volume, making it a useful reference work. Includes a section on behavior problems.

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      • Jensen, Per, ed. 2007. The behavioural biology of dogs. Cambridge, MA: CABI.

        DOI: 10.1079/9781845931872.0000Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Intended for upper-level undergraduates and professionals. Includes not only chapters on dog behavior (personality, learning, social behavior) but also sections on dog-human social interactions and behavior problems of dogs.

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      • Jensen, Per, ed. 2009. The ethology of domestic animals: An introductory text. 2d ed. Cambridge, MA: CABI.

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        Background chapters cover the basics of animal behavior, as well as human-animal interaction and abnormal behaviors. Separate chapters review the behavior of a range of species, including horses, cattle, pigs, goats, fowl, and sheep, as well as dogs and cats. Contributions from experts in the field make this a valuable resource.

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      • Miklósi, Ádám. 2007. Dog behaviour, evolution, and cognition. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

        DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199295852.001.0001Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Interesting, highly readable volume by one of the most active researchers on dog behavior. Includes chapters on cognitive processes, social cognition, development of behavior, and personality.

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      • Turner, Dennis C., and Patrick Bateson, eds. 2000. The domestic cat: The biology of its behaviour. 2d ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Chapters on behavioral development, predatory behavior, and social behavior from experts on cat behavior. Interesting contributions on domestication, human-cat relationships, and cat welfare round out this collection.

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      • Whishaw, Ian Q., and Bryan Kolb, eds. 2005 The behavior of the laboratory rat: A handbook with tests. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

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        Essential reference volume for researchers working with rats. Includes sections on natural history of the Norway rat, sensory and motor systems, development, social behavior, and cognition. The section on models and tests is an especially useful source.

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      Zoo Animal Behavior; Animal Welfare and Well-Being

      Along with interest in the behavior of animals in nonwild settings, such as zoos, comes concern about their welfare and well-being. Much of the research in this field has focused on zoo animal behavior. Professionals in this field are particularly concerned about housing and care effects on behavior and the role these factors may play in the management and breeding of zoo animals. Hediger 1964 was a pioneering work in this area and laid the groundwork for studies of how zoo design, animal housing, and care procedures impact the behavior of zoo animals. Shepherdson, et al. 1998 was among the first to focus on issues of well-being of zoo animals and the role of environmental enrichment in zoos. Young 2003 also focuses on environmental enrichment and the role it can play in improving welfare among zoo animals. Broom and Fraser 2007 provides an excellent reference, aimed primarily at veterinarians and veterinary students, that focuses on the welfare of farm animals and companion species. Fraser 2008 provides an introduction to aspects of animal welfare studies, including laying some of the cultural context for concern over animal welfare. The special issue of Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Swaisgood 2007) cited here presents a collection of articles examining the role of animal behavior research in improving welfare. Interested readers should also examine the works listed in the Companion, Domestic, and Laboratory Animal Behavior section.

      • Broom, Donald Maurice, and Andrew Ferguson Fraser. 2007. Domestic animal behaviour and welfare. 4th ed. Wallingford, UK: CABI.

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        Aimed at veterinary students and practitioners, this textbook covers behavior and welfare of a variety of species, including companion animals and farm animals. Excellent reference book for those interested in behavior and welfare of these species.

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      • Fraser, David. 2008. Understanding animal welfare: The science and its cultural context. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.

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        Concise introduction to animal welfare science. Chapters address how to assess and study animal welfare, as well as the cultural background of animal welfare science.

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      • Hediger, Heini. 1964. Wild animals in captivity: An outline of the biology of zoological gardens. New York: Dover.

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        Classic, influential monograph by founder of zoo animal behavior studies. Hediger illustrates the importance of considering animal behavior in designing zoo enclosures and in keeping wild animals in captivity. Includes discussions of the role of territory, predator/prey behavior, and feeding, among other topics. First translated into English from the original German in 1950.

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      • Shepherdson, David J., Jill D. Mellen, and Michael Hutchins, eds. 1998. Second nature: Environmental enrichment for captive animals. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.

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        One of the first book-length treatments of environmental enrichment for zoo animals. Contributed chapters examine the theoretical and historical basis of environmental enrichment research, as well as practical concerns when implementing enrichment programs into daily management practices at zoos. Case studies of several species are also included.

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      • Swaisgood, Ronald, ed. Special Issue: Conservation, Enrichment and Animal Behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102.3–4 (2007).

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        Special issue of the journal focusing on conservation, enrichment, and animal behavior. Fifteen articles in this special issue examine a wide range of topics related to enrichment of captive habitats, stress and captivity, and the role of applied behavior research in conservation and welfare. Available online for purchase or by subscription.

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      • Young, Robert John. 2003. Environmental enrichment for captive animals. Oxford: Blackwell.

        DOI: 10.1002/9780470751046Save Citation »Export Citation »E-mail Citation »

        Provides background on both the how and why of environmental enrichment. Chapters cover the use of social enrichment, foraging-related enrichment, housing and environmental issues, and other modes of enrichment. Also includes a chapter on designing studies of environmental enrichment.

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      Human-Animal Interaction

      The relationship between humans and nonhuman animals is an increasingly important research area, particularly among psychologists and veterinarians who focus on companion animals. However, research in this area is not limited to companion animals, and an increasing number of studies examine human-animal interactions of all kinds (e.g., interactions with farm/food animals), as well as human attitudes toward animals. The journal Anthrozoös is a forum for the publication of research in the emerging field of anthrozoology. Herzog 2010 offers an engaging and readable look at research in this area written for a nonprofessional audience. For scientists, Podberscek, et al. 2000 contains empirical work examining human-pet interactions and human attitudes toward companion animals. Illustrating the diversity of research in this area, the contributions in Arluke and Sanders 2009 explore human-animal relationships primarily from a sociological perspective. McCardle, et al. 2010 provides examples of research in an increasingly important area, that is, the role of human-animal interaction on human health and well-being.

      • Anthrozoös.

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        Official journal of the International Society for Anthrozoology. Focuses on human-animal relationships. This peer-reviewed journal is interdisciplinary in that it publishes scholarship from multiple perspectives, including psychology, biology, veterinary medicine, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and other disciplines.

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      • Arluke, Arnold, and Clinton Sanders, eds. 2009. Between species: Readings in human-animal relations. Boston: Pearson.

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        This edited volume contains a collection of diverse writings on human-animal relationships, primarily from a sociological perspective. Topics covered include the broad range of human-animal relationships, including wildlife and animals as food, as pets, as a source of entertainment, and as research subjects.

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      • Herzog, Hal. 2010. Some we love, some we hate, some we eat: Why it’s so hard to think straight about animals. New York: Harper.

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        Written for a popular audience but based on recent research, this book explores the numerous and contradictory attitudes that humans hold toward different species. Excellent introduction to the field and ideas of anthrozoology for nonscientists.

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      • McCardle, Peggy, Sandra McCune, James A. Griffin, and Valerie Maholmes, eds. 2010. How animals affect us: Examining the influence of human-animal interaction on child development and human health. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

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        Contributed chapters examine the field of human-animal interaction (HAI) research from a variety of perspectives. Includes sections on methodological issues, HAI and child development, and HAI and human health issues. An interesting collection of articles in this rapidly developing field.

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      • Podberscek, Anthony L., Elizabeth S. Paul, and James A. Serpell, eds. 2000. Companion animals and us: Exploring the relationships between people and pets. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press.

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        Chapters in this edited volume examine human-pet relationships from multiple perspectives. Historical, cultural, and ethical issues are considered, as well as behavioral interactions between humans and pets.

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      LAST MODIFIED: 11/29/2011

      DOI: 10.1093/OBO/9780199828340-0005

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