In this book, It� presents data on tropical wasps which suggest that kin-selection has been overemphasized as an evolutionary explanation of sociality. He concentrates on the Vespidae (paper wasps and hornets), a group much discussed by evolutionary biologists because it exhibits all stages of social evolution: subsociality, primitive eusociality, and advanced eusociality. The author reports field observations by himself and others in Central America, Asia, and Australia, showing that multiple egg-layers in a nest are not uncommon. Because coexistence of many 'queens' leads to lower relatedness among colony members than in single-queen colonies, he suggests that kin-selection may not be the most powerful force determining observed social patterns. Instead, subsocial wasps may first have aggregated for defense purposes in habitats with a high risk of predation, with mutualistic associations among many queens. Through parental manipulation and then kin selection, differentiation into within-generation castes may have followed. Of interest to all students of ecology, evolution, and behavior, this book beautifully demonstrates the author's ability to combine wide-ranging data with thoughtful questions.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Presents evidence to support the hypothesis proposed by West-Eberhard (1978), called the polygynous family hypothesis. Photographs, line-drawings, graphs, diagrams, and tables illustrate the text." --BIOSIS
"Detailed descriptions, analyses, and discussions of various studies. Most of the highly technical terms are defined when first used and are readily accessible using the excellent index. Accurate information is lucidly presented in an easy-to-read, logically organized format. Sharply delineated black-and-white photographs, tables, graphs, and flow diagrams are accompanied by clearly written captions. Entomologists, ethologists, and evolutionists will find much here of value and interest." --Choice
About the Author
Yosiaki Ito is at Okinawa University.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Important figures and terms poorly explained, contradicted,
By A Customer
This review is from: Behaviour and Social Evolution of Wasps: The Communal Aggregation Hypothesis (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution) (Hardcover)
This book received a very poor proofreading before going to press. For example, "independent founding" is used early on in two contradictory ways, though this term is conceptually important for the author's argument. And the caption to figure 2.5 is almost incomprehensible, though it sets the stage for what is to follow. All this and more before page 11. Very disappointing, especially so because it is a publication of Oxford Press.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Give the Devil his due,
By Ashtar Command "Seeker" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Behaviour and Social Evolution of Wasps: The Communal Aggregation Hypothesis (Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution) (Paperback)
Wasps didn't evolve. They were created by the Devil himself. The wasp is the Devil's failed attempt to create a Western honeybee!
Why have this vital information been left out of our King James Bibles? It's time to give the Devil his due. Who else than Satan (and his grandma) could be behind EVIL-ution? :D
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
