Models of Adaptive Behaviour
An Approach Based on State

This book presents exciting findings in the field of adaptive dynamic modelling of behaviour.

Alasdair I. Houston (Author), John M. McNamara (Author)

9780521655392, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 August 1999

390 pages, 45 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.57 kg

'I think this book will define a benchmark in behavioural ecology … This book deserves to be read (and reread) by a wide audience of scientists.' Animal Behaviour

Models of Adaptive Behaviour sets out a framework for adaptive explanations of behaviour, and applies this to give 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. It gives a definitive account of this exciting field, summarizing previous research, presenting material and suggesting directions for research. Organisms differ in terms of their state - for example in their size, energy relations or temperature - which often affects their behaviour. The framework adopted in this book takes this into account, and 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 behavioural or evolutionary biology.

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.

Subject Areas: Animal behaviour [PSVP], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF]