Comparative Social Evolution

A comparative view of the major features of animal social life and the evolution of cooperative group living.

Dustin R. Rubenstein (Edited by), Patrick Abbot (Edited by)

9781107647923, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 March 2017

476 pages, 34 b/w illus. 13 tables
24.6 x 17.4 x 2 cm, 0.92 kg

'Powerful, elegant theory guides our understanding of animal social behavior, but an historical tradition of confining empirical insights to particular taxonomic and methodological silos means the devil remains in the detail. This excellent volume resolves this issue by imposing a strict framework to each taxon-focused chapter, thereby allowing readers to gain invaluable, perhaps unprecedented insights from chapters outside their taxonomic comfort zone. The canny will read the book cover to cover, recognizing that the editors have facilitated creative debate in the grand comparative tradition - uncluttered by taxon-specific misunderstandings.' Mark Elgar, University of Melbourne, Australia

Darwin famously described special difficulties in explaining social evolution in insects. More than a century later, the evolution of sociality - defined broadly as cooperative group living - remains one of the most intriguing problems in biology. Providing a unique perspective on the study of social evolution, this volume synthesizes the features of animal social life across the principle taxonomic groups in which sociality has evolved. The chapters explore sociality in a range of species, from ants to primates, highlighting key natural and life history data and providing a comparative view across animal societies. In establishing a single framework for a common, trait-based approach towards social synthesis, this volume will enable graduate students and investigators new to the field to systematically compare taxonomic groups and reinvigorate comparative approaches to studying animal social evolution.

1. The evolution of social evolution Dustin R. Rubenstein and Patrick Abbot
Part I. Invertebrates: 2. Sociality in ants Jürgen Heinze, Katrina Kellner and Jon Seal
3. Sociality in bees William Wcislo and Jennifer H. Fewell
4. Sociality in wasps James H. Hunt and Amy L. Toth
5. Sociality in termites Judith Korb and Barbara Thorne
6. Sociality in aphids and thrips Patrick Abbot and Tom Chapman
7. Sociality in spiders Leticia Avilés and Jennifer Guevara
8. Sociality in shrimps Kristin Hultgren, J. Emmett Duffy and Dustin R. Rubenstein
Part II. Vertebrates: 9. Sociality in primates Joan B. Silk and Peter M. Kappeler
10. Sociality in non-primate mammals Jennifer E. Smith, Eileen A. Lacey and Loren D. Hayes
11. Sociality in birds Andrew Cockburn, Ben J. Hatchwell and Walter D. Koenig
12. Sociality in fishes Michael Taborsky and Marian Wong
13. Sociality in lizards Martin J. Whiting and Geoffrey M. While
14. Social synthesis: opportunities for comparative social evolution Dustin R. Rubenstein and Patrick Abbot.

Subject Areas: Animal behaviour [PSVP], Zoology & animal sciences [PSV], Evolution [PSAJ], Life sciences: general issues [PSA], Biology, life sciences [PS]