Construction behaviour occurs across the entire spectrum of the animal kingdom and affects the survival of both builders and other organisms associated with them. Animal Architecture provides a comprehensive overview of the biology of animal building. The book recognizes three broad categories of built structure: homes, traps, and courtship displays. Even though some of these structures are complex and very large, the behaviour required to build them is generally simple and the anatomy for building unspecialized. Standardization of building materials helps to keep building repertoires simple, while self-organizing effects help create complexity. In a case-study approach to function, insects demonstrate how homes can remain operational while they grow, spiderwebs illustrate mechanical design, and the displays of bowerbirds raise the possibility of persuasion through design rather than just decoration. Studies of the costs to builders provide evidence of optimal designs and of trade-offs with other life history traits. As ecosystem engineers, the influence of builders is extensive and their effect is generally to enhance biodiversity through niche construction. Animal builders can therefore represent model species for the study of the emerging subject of environmental inheritance. Building, and in particular building with silk, has been demonstrated to have important evolutionary consequences. This book is intended for students and researchers in comparative animal biology, but will also be of relevance and use to the increasing numbers of architects and civil engineers interested in developing ideas from the animal kingdom.

About the Author
Mike Hansell is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.

Reviews
Hansells long-held enthusiasm for the subject comes across in an easily read scholarly style. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, December 2005.


Awards
Winner of Author awarded the Neill Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (First awarded in 1859, he is the 63rd recipient). This is awarded triennially for publication(s) by a 'Scottish' naturalist done within the last five years..



Book Information
ISBN 9780198507529
Author Mike Hansell
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 607g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 20mm