Mixed-Species Groups of Animals: Behavior, Community Structure, and Conservation presents a comprehensive discussion on the mixed-species groups of animals, a spectacular and accessible example of the complexity of species interactions. They are found in a wide range of animals, including invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds, and in different habitats, both terrestrial and aquatic, throughout the world. While there are more than 500 articles on this subject scattered in separate categories of journals, there has yet to be a general, cross-taxa book-length introduction to this subject that summarizes the behavior and community structure of these groups. The authors first survey the diversity of spatial associations among animals and then concentrate on moving groups. They review the major classes of theories that have been developed to explain their presence, particularly in how groups increase foraging efficiency and decrease predation. Finally, they explore the intricacies of species interactions, such as communication, that explain species roles in groups and discuss what implications these social systems have for conservation.

Mixed-Species Groups of Animals: Behavior, Community Structure, and Conservation

Science & Math

Ruxton, Graeme D.

Beauchamp, Guy

Goodale, Eben

Biological Sciences

Academic Press

This book discusses the diversity of mechanisms by which prey avoid attack by predators and questions how such defensive mechanisms have evolved through natural selection. It considers how potential prey avoid detection, how they make themselves unprofitable to attack, how they signal their unprofitability, and how other species have exploited these signals. Using carefully selected examples drawn from a wide range of species and ecosystems, the authors present a critical analysis of the most important published works in the field. Illustrative examples of camouflage, mimicry and warning signals regularly appear in undergraduate ecology textbooks, but these subjects are rarely considered in depth. This book summarizes some of the latest research into these fascinating adaptations, developing mathematical models where appropriate and making recommendations for the most urgently needed outstanding areas of enquiry.

Avoiding Attack: The Evolutionary Ecology of Crypsis, Warning Signals and Mimicry

Sherratt, Thomas N.

Speed, Michael P.

Oxford University Press

This book discusses the diversity of mechanisms by which prey avoid attack by predators and questions how such defensive mechanisms have evolved through natural selection. It considers how potential prey avoid detection, how they make themselves unprofitable to attack, how they signal their unprofitability, and how other species have exploited these signals. Using carefully selected examples drawn from a wide range of species and ecosystems, the authors present a critical analysis of the most important published works in the field.  Illustrative examples of camouflage, mimicry and warning signals regularly appear in undergraduate ecology textbooks, but these subjects are rarely considered in depth. This book summarizes some of the latest research into these fascinating adaptations, developing mathematical models where appropriate and making recommendations for the most urgently needed outstanding areas of enquiry.

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

The careful design of experiments lies at the core of good research. Experimental Design for the Life Sciences equips you with the skills you need to effectively design experiments, making this essential aspect of the research process readily understandable. It demonstrates how good experimental design relies on clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity. With a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the book walks you through the considerations that go into designing an experiment in clear, practical terms. Using examples drawn from across the life sciences - from ecology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and health sciences - the authors illustrate how these concepts are applied within the broad context of real biological research. Online Resource Centre The Online Resource centre to accompany Experimental Design for the Life Sciences features: For students: DT Self-test questions and answers DT Additional examples DT Supplementary sections discuss complex concepts and statistical issues in more depth DT Links to useful websites and free software For lecturers: DT Suggested course structures, complete with practical exercises DT Figures from the book, available to download

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

Colegrave, Nick

Written primarily for students embarking on an undergraduate bioscience degree, this primer provides an accessible, straightforward, and approachable guide to data presentation using R. It offers valuable and widely applicable advice on how to choose the most appropriate type of graph for different types of data, and guides readers from the basics of plotting clear figures to producing polished and effective visuals, illustrating the core concepts and features of excellent graphing. This primer uses simple and engaging biology-based example data sets to take readers from the essential aspects of basic plots to more advanced graphing techniques and details. Digital formats and resources The book is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources: - The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks - Online resources include extended supplementary resources to guide use of R, multiple choice questions for students to check their understanding, and, for registered adopters, figures and tables from the book

Presenting Scientific Data in R: Creating effective graphs and figures (Oxford Biology Primers)

Humphreys, Rosalind K.

Reference

The Statistical Analysis of Small Data Sets

We live in the era of big data. However, small data sets are still common for ethical, financial, or practical reasons. Small sample sizes can cause researchers to seek out the most powerful methods to analyse their data, but they may also be wary that some methodologies and assumptions may not be appropriate when samples are small. The book offers advice on the statistical analysis of small data sets for various designs and levels of measurement, helping researchers to analyse such data sets, but also to evaluate and interpret others' analyses. The book discusses the potential challenges associated with a small sample, as well as the ways in which these challenges can be mitigated. General topics with strong relevance to small sample sizes such as meta-analysis, sequential and adaptive designs, and multiple testing are introduced. While the focus is on hypothesis tests and confidence intervals, Bayesian analyses are also covered. Code written in the statistical software R is presented to carry out the proposed methods, many of which are not limited to use on small data sets, and the book also discusses approaches to computing the power or the necessary sample size, respectively.

Neuhäuser, Markus

Mathematics

This book aims to teach the reader how to design effective experiments. The overwhelming majority of life scientists design experiments. However they tend to approach design in an informal ad hoc way, improving their techniques in the light of experience. This book aims to provide the junior scientist a short-cut way to learn how to design effective experiments without going through a painful trial and error process.  For more experienced scientists, the text should also function to stimulate them to think about the way they design experiments, and perhaps lead them to design more effective experiments in future. Concepts, such as power analysis and pseudoreplication, that many experienced scientists consider to be mystifying or difficult, are explained in clear and practical terms.  The emphasis throughout is to demonstrate that good experimental design is about clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity.  Companion Web Site All the figures from the book will be available to download free from the companion web site at www.oup.com/uk/best.textbooks/biology/ruxtoncolegrave

At the core of good research lies the careful design of experiments. Yet all too often a successful design comes only after a painful trial-and-error process, wasting valuable time and valuable resources. Experimental Design for the Life Sciences teaches the reader how to effectively design experiments, to ensure that today's students are equipped with the skills they need to be the researchers of tomorrow. With a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the book explains the essential elements of experimental design in clear, practical terms, so that the reader can grasp and apply even the most challenging concepts, including power analysis and pseudoreplication. Emphasizing throughout the inter-relatednedd of experimental design, statistics, and ethical considerations, the book ensures that the reader really understands experimental design in the broader context of biological research, using examples drawn from the primary literature to show to the student how the theory is applied in active research. Above all, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences shows how good experimental design is about clear thinking and biological understanding, not mathematical or statistical complexity - putting it at the heart of any biosciences student's education.

Plant-Animal Communication

Communication is an essential factor underpinning the interactions between species and the structure of their communities. Plant-animal interactions are particularly diverse due to the complex nature of their mutualistic and antagonistic relationships. However the evolution of communication and the underlying mechanisms responsible remain poorly understood. Plant-Animal Communication is a timely summary of the latest research and ideas on the ecological and evolutionary foundations of communication between plants and animals, including discussions of fundamental concepts such as deception, reliability, and camouflage. It introduces how the sensory world of animals shapes the various modes of communication employed, laying out the basics of vision, scent, acoustic, and gustatory communication. Subsequent chapters discuss how plants communicate in these sensory modes to attract animals to facilitate seed dispersal, pollination, and carnivory, and how they communicate to defend themselves against herbivores. Potential avenues for productive theoretical and empirical research are clearly identified, and suggestions for novel empirical approaches to the study of communication in general are outlined.

Schaefer, H. Martin

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ruxton, Graeme D.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ruxton, Graeme D.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ruxton, Graeme D.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Mixed-Species Groups of Animals: Behavior, Community Structure, and Conservation

Avoiding Attack: The Evolutionary Ecology of Crypsis, Warning Signals and Mimicry

Avoiding Attack: The Evolutionary Ecology of Crypsis, Warning Signals and Mimicry

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

Presenting Scientific Data in R: Creating effective graphs and figures (Oxford Biology Primers)

The Statistical Analysis of Small Data Sets

The Statistical Analysis of Small Data Sets

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

Plant-Animal Communication