Vessey, Stephen H. : Bowling Green State University-Bowling Green
Jakob, Elizabeth : University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Summary
Designed for a one-semester introductory course in Animal Behavior. Animal behavior is a broad discipline with
investigators and contributions from diverse perspectives, including anthropology, comparative psychology, ecology,
ethology, physiology, and zoology. The authors goal in this textbook is to use evolutionary principles as a unifying
theme to provide students exposure to a number of approaches to the field of animal behavior. They also demonstrate
that the varied perspectives used to study behavior are complementary and often integrated; they are not mutually
exclusive. The subtitle, "Mechanisms, Ecology, and Evolution," reflects the broad themes that dominate the book.
Features:
Greater detail has been added where necessary to clarify key topics, such as genes and evolution, applied animal
behavior, and neuronal and sensory mechanisms.
Addition of co-author Elizabeth Jakob of the University of Massachusetts promises an even greater level of
expertise.
Features include several new boxed essays, updating to examples and references, a new interior design, and
new and revised photos and art figures throughout the text.
Balanced presentation of the mechanistic and evolutionary factors that influence an animal’s life
(choice of habitat, mate, food, etc.).
Pedagogical elements include: chapter outlines; end-of-chapter summary, discussion questions, suggested readings,
and full glossary and references sections at the end of the text.
The contents of Chapters 5 and 6 have been reversed and reorganized. New material on behavioral genetics and
the evolution of behavior was added, including a discussion of phylogenetic analysis and the comparative method.
Many new neurobiological examples and a discussion of motor programs is included.
Material covering animal cognition has been greatly expanded as part of the chapter on learning behavior.
The glossary contains many new and revised definitions of all terms that appear in boldface in the text material.
Additional material on applied animal behavior has been added in several chapters, reflecting the increased
importance of this subfield of animal behavior.
Updated examples and references can be found throughout the book, as well as new illustrations and photos where
appropriate.
Features:
In each of the major parts of the book and within each chapter, the authors first define the concepts and processes
that form the foundation for an area of investigation. Then, using appropriate research examples, they present
the methods and techniques used to understand the problems that are explored in that subarea of behavior. By using
this approach, students are introduced to a variety of viewpoints that have contributed to the richness and strongly
integrative nature of the discipline.
Table of Contents
Part One The Study of Animal Behavior
1 Introduction
2 History of the Study of Animal Behavior
3 Approaches and Methods
Part Two Behavior Genetics and Evolution
4 Genes and Evolution
5 Behavioral Genetics
6 Evolution of Behavior Patterns
Part Three Mechanisms of Behavior
7 The Nervous System and Behavior
8 Hormones and Behavior, and Immunology and Behavior
9 Biological Timekeeping
10 Development of Behavior
11 Learning Behavior
12 Communication
