Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior, 12th Edition, is a textbook that shows how researchers apply scientific logic to investigate the mechanisms and evolutionary foundations of behavior. The text uses evolutionary theory as a unifying framework connecting distinct sub-disciplines.

The volume offers a comparative, integrative overview across diverse organisms ranging from insects to humans. It examines how behavioral patterns connect to the brain, genes, and hormones, as well as ecological and social surroundings.

In addressing behavioral development, the work explores molecular and evolutionary frameworks, including the evo-devo approach to understanding behavior. In addition, discussions of song learning illustrate how developmental processes and social context influence behavioral variation within species.