Built by Animals
The natural history of animal architecture
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Product details:
- Publisher OUP Oxford
- Date of Publication 29 January 2009
- ISBN 9780199205578
- Binding Paperback
- No. of pages288 pages
- Size 195x129x17 mm
- Weight 227 g
- Language English
- Illustrations 21 halftones, plus full-colour 8pp plate section 0
Categories
Short description:
From vast termite mounds, to elaborate birds nests, delicate shells, and deadly spiders' traps, the constructions of the animal world can amaze and at times humble our own engineering and technology. Mike Hansell reveals the biology behind animal architecture - showing how small brains have evolved to produce complex and beautiful structures.
MoreLong description:
From termite mounds that in relative terms are three times as tall as a skyscraper, to the elaborate nests of social birds and the deadly traps of spiders, the constructions of the animal world can amaze and at times humble our own engineering and technology. But how do creatures with such small brains build these complex structures? What drives them to do it? Which skills are innate and which learned?
Here, Mike Hansell looks at the extraordinary structures that animals build - whether homes, traps, or courtship displays - and reveals the biology behind their behaviour. He shows how small-brained animals achieve complex feats in a small-brained way, by repeating many simple actions and using highly evolved self-secreted materials. On the other hand, the building feats or tool use of large-brained animals, such as humans or chimps, require significantly more complex and costly behaviour. We
look at wasp's nests, leaf-cutting ants, caddisflies and amoebae, and even the extraordinary bower bird, who seduces his mate with a decorated pile of twigs, baubles, feathers and berries. Hansell explores how animal structures evolved over time, how insect societies emerge, how animals can alter
their wider habitat, and even whether some animals have an aesthetic sense.
Hansell has written a typically eloquent account of a fascinating manifestation of animal life. He seamlessly weaves scientific method and understanding into the observations of nature that so clearly have inspired him.
Table of Contents:
The builders
From one nest to another
Builders change the world
You don't need brains to be a builder
Who's in charge around here?
Two routes lead to trap building
The magic of the tool users
Beautiful bowers
