Social evolution and inclusive fitness theory : an introduction / James A.R. Marshall.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marshall, James A. R., 1976- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hamilton, W. D. (William Donald), 1936-2000.

Hamilton, W. D.

Sociobiology.

Social behavior in animals.

Behavior evolution.

Evolution (Biology).

Social evolution.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (217 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2015]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Social behavior has long puzzled evolutionary biologists, since the classical theory of natural selection maintains that individuals should not sacrifice their own fitness to affect that of others. Social Evolution and Inclusive Fitness Theory argues that a theory first presented in 1963 by William D. Hamilton-inclusive fitness theory-provides the most fundamental and general explanation for the evolution and maintenance of social behavior in the natural world. James Marshall guides readers through the vast and confusing literature on the evolution of social behavior, introducing and explaining the competing theories that claim to provide answers to questions such as why animals evolve to behave altruistically. Using simple statistical language and techniques that practicing biologists will be familiar with, he provides a comprehensive yet easily understandable treatment of key concepts and their repeated misinterpretations. Particular attention is paid to how more realistic features of behavior, such as non-additivity and conditionality, can complicate analysis. Marshall highlights the general problem of identifying the underlying causes of evolutionary change, and proposes fruitful approaches to doing so in the study of social evolution. Social Evolution and Inclusive Fitness Theory describes how inclusive fitness theory addresses both simple and complex social scenarios, the controversies surrounding the theory, and how experimental work supports the theory as the most powerful explanation for social behavior and its evolution.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER ONE. Social Behavior and Evolutionary Thought

CHAPTER TWO. Models of Social Behavior

CHAPTER THREE. The Price Equation

CHAPTER FOUR. Inclusive Fitness and Hamilton's Rule

CHAPTER FIVE. Nonadditive Interactions and Hamilton's Rule

CHAPTER SIX. Conditional Behaviors and Inclusive Fitness

CHAPTER SEVEN. Variants of Hamilton's Rule and Evolutionary Explanations

CHAPTER EIGHT. Heritability, Maximization, and Evolutionary Explanations

CHAPTER NINE. What Is Fitness?

CHAPTER TEN. Evidence, Other Approaches, and Further Topics

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691183336

0691183333

9781400866564

1400866561

OCLC:

984616857