Co-authored by a theoretician and a fieldworker, this text discusses the reasons behind the reliability of animal signals. Challenging the assumption that there is only one correct explanation for signal reliability, Smith and Harper (both U. of Sussex, UK) argue that it is maintained in several ways, relevant in different circumstances. The authors provide examples of animal signaling systems to which one or another theory applies, and identify areas where further research is needed. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR More Reviews and Recommendations

John Maynard Smith is an eminent evolutionary biologist and author of many books on evolution, both for scientists and the general public. He is professor emeritus at the University of Sussex, UK, Fellow of the Royal Society, winner of the Darwin Medal, and laureate of the Crafoord Prize of the Swedish Academy of Sciences. David Harper is Senior Lecturer in Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, UK.

Tags: animal signals