This well-accepted book, now in its Third Edition, is an extension of the previous edition. The text has further enriched with more information to understand animal behaviour coherently and scientifically.
The book attempts to provide a reasonably suitable account of animal behaviour for undergraduate as well as postgraduate students. Although behaviour of animals has fascinated people for a long, behavioural biology has been incorporated in the syllabi very recently. The study of behaviour received its important boost from the work of Charles Darwin who used the term ‘instinct’, to refer to the natural behaviour of animals. In the 1930s, a comprehensive theory of animal behaviour emerged through the work of Konrad Lorenz and, later of Niko Tinbergen. Biological study of behaviour, in fact came of age as a science when Lorenz, Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch received the Nobel Prize for their contribution to science.
Observing and describing exactly what animals do is fascinating and scientific analysis of their behaviour is significant for several reasons. Each species tends to have an array of stereotyped behaviours, some of which are shared with related species, but others are unique. Ecology, natural selection, macroevolution, microevolution, and gene constitute the foundation of animal behaviour. Various animal groups exhibit diverse strategies for their survival and reproduction which are discussed in this book.
The book is primarily intended for the students of B.Sc./M.Sc. (Zoology/Life Science) for their courses. It would be useful for the researchers in the field of animal behaviour, and conservation biologists. It would also attract students who are pursuing courses in Sociology and Anthropology.
Key features
• Presents a well-balanced view of ethology.
• Discusses the current development in the field.
• Includes a glossary of important terms.
• Offers chapter-end questions to check the students’ understanding of the concept.
FATIK BARAN MANDAL, Ph.D., is the Principal at Bankura Christian College, Bankura, West Bengal. With a teaching and research experience of 20 years, Dr. Mandal has published more than 125 articles and research papers in various reputed national and international journals and other media. He is the author of six books, including Textbook of Animal Behaviour (3rd ed.) and Human Parasitology (2nd ed.), published by PHI Learning. Dr. Mandal has been awarded the Fellowship of the Zoological Survey of India and Zoological Society of India, and has been honoured with the “Best Educationist Award” by the International Institute of Education and Management, New Delhi. His fields of interest include ecology and evolutionary biology, biodiversity, parasitology and behavioural biology.
He is the Associate Editor of International Journal of Zoology Research, Member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Scientific Review, Editorial Board member of the World of Science and Technology, Editorial Board Member of the Open Research Journal of Science and Environment, Editor of Webmed Central, Editorial Board Member of Science Journals International, Editorial Secretary of Journal of Environment and Sociobiology, Editorial Board Member of Animal Science Letters, and Reviewer of Herald Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Journal of Ecopsychology.
