Definitions of diversity. Measuring species diversity. Choosing an index and interpreting diversity measures. Sampling problems. Structural diversity. Applications of diversity measures. Summary.

/pdf/ecological-diversity-and-its-measurement-4az8bcrmxt.pdf

Ecological Diversity and its Measurement

Every form of behavior is shaped by trial and error. Such stepwise adaptation can occur through individual learning or through natural selection, the basis of evolution. Since the work of Maynard Smith and others, it has been realized how game theory can model this process. Evolutionary game theory replaces the static solutions of classical game theory by a dynamical approach centered not on the concept of rational players but on the population dynamics of behavioral programs. In this book the authors investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the self-regulation of social and economic behavior, and of the closely related interactions among species in ecological communities. Replicator equations describe how successful strategies spread and thereby create new conditions that can alter the basis of their success, i.e., to enable us to understand the strategic and genetic foundations of the endless chronicle of invasions and extinctions that punctuate evolution. In short, evolutionary game theory describes when to escalate a conflict, how to elicit cooperation, why to expect a balance of the sexes, and how to understand natural selection in mathematical terms.

 Comprehensive treatment of ecological and game theoretic dynamics
 Invasion dynamics and permanence as key concepts
 Explanation in terms of games of things like competition between species

/pdf/evolutionary-games-and-population-dynamics-pax1uk4ywa.pdf

Evolutionary games and population dynamics

We report temporal patterns of viral shedding in 94 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and modeled COVID-19 infectiousness profiles from a separate sample of 77 infector–infectee transmission pairs. We observed the highest viral load in throat swabs at the time of symptom onset, and inferred that infectiousness peaked on or before symptom onset. We estimated that 44% (95% confidence interval, 30–57%) of secondary cases were infected during the index cases’ presymptomatic stage, in settings with substantial household clustering, active case finding and quarantine outside the home. Disease control measures should be adjusted to account for probable substantial presymptomatic transmission. Presymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to account for a substantial proportion of COVID-19 cases.

/pdf/temporal-dynamics-in-viral-shedding-and-transmissibility-of-39farhyxqt.pdf

Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19.

Contemporary mate preferences can provide important clues to human reproductive history. Little is known about which characteristics people value in potential mates. Five predictions were made about sex differences in human mate preferences based on evolutionary conceptions of parental investment, sexual selection, human reproductive capacity, and sexual asymmetries regarding certainty of paternity versus maternity. The predictions centered on how each sex valued earning capacity, ambition— industriousness, youth, physical attractiveness, and chastity. Predictions were tested in data from 37 samples drawn from 33 countries located on six continents and five islands (total N = 10,047). For 27 countries, demographic data on actual age at marriage provided a validity check on questionnaire data. Females were found to value cues to resource acquisition in potential mates more highly than males. Characteristics signaling reproductive capacity were valued more by males than by females. These sex differences may reflect different evolutionary selection pressures on human males and females; they provide powerful cross-cultural evidence of current sex differences in reproductive strategies. Discussion focuses on proximate mechanisms underlying mate preferences, consequences for human intrasexual competition, and the limitations of this study.

/pdf/sex-differences-in-human-mate-preferences-evolutionary-227sbaq8b2.pdf

Sex differences in human mate preferences: Evolutionary hypotheses tested in 37 cultures

Combination of seven surveys of blood parasites in North American passerines reveals weak, highly significant association over species between incidence of chronic blood infections (five genera of protozoa and one nematode) and striking display (three characters: male "brightness," female "brightness," and male song). This result conforms to a model of sexual selection in which (i) coadaptational cycles of host and parasites generate consistently positive offspring-on-parent regression of fitness, and (ii) animals choose mates for genetic disease resistance by scrutiny of characters whose full expression is dependent on health and vigor.

http://max2.ese.u-psud.fr/epc/conservation/PDFs/HIPE/Hamilton1982.pdf

Heritable true fitness and bright birds: a role for parasites?

Part 1 Natural selection and life histories: evolutionary models in behavioural ecology evolution of life histories human behavioural ecology Part 2 Exploitation of resources: decision-making competition for resources interactions between predators and prey Part 3 Sexual selection and reproductive strategies: sexual selection parental investment mating systems Part 4 Co-operation and conflict: co-operative breeding in birds and mammals conflict and co-operation in insects communication

Behavioural Ecology : An Evolutionary Approach

Feasibility of controlling COVID-19 outbreaks by isolation of cases and contacts

Introduction Natural Selection, Ecology And Behaviour Testing Hypotheses In Behavioural Ecology Economic Decisions And The Individual Predator Versus Prey: Evolutionary Arms Races Competing For Resources Living In Groups Fighting And Assessment Sexual Conflict And Sexual Selection Parental Care And Mating Systems Alternative Breeding Strategies On Selfishness And Altruism Co-Operation And Helping In Birds, Mammals, And Fish Co-Operation And Altruism In The Social Insects The Design Of Signals: Ecology And Evolution Conclusion

/pdf/an-introduction-to-behavioural-ecology-12cbe71nbp.pdf

An introduction to behavioural ecology

Acknowledgements ix 1. A monstrous outrage on maternal affection 1 2. One hundred brood parasites and some puzzles 11 3. The Common Cuckoo and its hosts 26 4. Co-evolution of host defences and Common Cuckoo trickery 43 5. How to spot a cuckoo egg 59 6. Driving parents cuckoo 70 7. Bronze-cuckoos in Africa and Australia 82 8. The non-evicting cuckoos: manipulative nestlings and Mafia tactics 98 9. Cuckoos versus hosts: who wins? 117 10. The Brown-headed Cowbird and its conquest of North America 141 11. Old and new hosts of the Brown-headed Cowbird and conservation problems 159 12. 'Shot-gun' Shiny and specialist Screaming Cowbirds, with cowbirds and cuckoos compared 177 13. The parasitic finches of Africa: mimicry of host chicks and host songs 194 14. Cheating on your own kind 211 15. Origins 241 Notes on the chapters 257 Appendix 1: The one hundred species of brood parasitic birds 263 Appendix 2: Scientific names of birds and other animals mentioned in the text 271 References 276 Index 299 Other books in the series 311 The colour plate section can be found between pages 150 and 151.

Nicholas B. Davies

Papers

Behavioural Ecology : An Evolutionary Approach

Feasibility of controlling COVID-19 outbreaks by isolation of cases and contacts

An introduction to behavioural ecology

Cuckoos, cowbirds and other cheats

Cuckoos versus reed warblers: Adaptations and counteradaptations