Skip to main content
Log in

Dynamic models in behavioural and evolutionary ecology

  • Review Article
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

The maximization of fitness is often used to analyse the action of natural selection on the life history of animals but short periods of behaviour receive ad hoc treatment. This article describes a dynamic, stochastic model for analysing behaviour in terms of the maximization of fitness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Darwin, C. On the origin of species by natural selection (Murray, London, 1859).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Oster, G. F. & Wilson, E. O. Caste and Ecology in the Social Insects (Princeton University Press, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Maynard Smith, J. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 9, 31–56 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. McFarland, D. J. Nature 269, 15–21 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Stearns, S. C. Q. Rev. Biol 51, 3–47 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Schaffer, W. M. Am. Nat. 121, 418–431 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sibly, R. & Calow, P. J. theor. Biol. 102, 527–547 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tinbergen, N. et al. Behaviour 19, 74–117 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mangel, M. & Clark, C. W. Ecology 67, 1127–1138 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McNamara, J. M. & Houston, A. I. Am. Nat. 127, 358–378 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Schoener, T. A. Rev. Syst. Ecol. 2, 369–404 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Stephens, D. W. & Krebs, J. R. Foraging Theory (Princeton University Press, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Werner, E. E. & Gilliam, J. F. A. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 15, 393–425 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ross, S. Introduction to Stochastic Dynamic Programming (Academic, New York, 1983).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. McCleery, R. M. Anim. Behav. 25, 1005–1015 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Mangel, M. J. Math. Biol 25, 1–22 (1987).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. Houston, A. I. & McNamara, J. M. in Relevance of models and theories in ethology (eds Campan, R. & Zayan, R.) 61–75 (Privat, I.E.C., Toulouse).

  18. Packer, C. in Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution (eds Rubenstein, D. I. & Wrangham, R. W.) 429–451 (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Caraco, T. & Wolf, L. L. Am. Nat. 109, 343–352 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Schaller, G. B. The Serengeti Lion (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Clark, C. W. Anim. Behav. 35, 361–368 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Owens, M. J. & Owens, D. D. Int. Wildl. 14, 4–13.

  23. Gibb, J. A. Ibis 96, 513–543 (1954).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. McNamara, J. M. & Houston, A. I. Acta Biotheoretica 36, 3–22 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. McNamara, J. M., Mace, R. H. & Houston, A. I. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 20, 399–405 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Reid, M. L. Anim. Behav. 35, 1735–1743 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Maynard Smith, J. Evolution and the Theory of Games (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1982).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  28. Houston, A. I. & McNamara, J. M. J. theor. Biol. 129, 57–68 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Houston, A. I. & McNamara, J. M. Evol. Ecol. (in the press).

  30. Charnov, E. L. & Skinner, S. W. Flor. Ent. 67, 5–21 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Roitberg, B. D. & Prokopy, R. J. Ecol. Ent. 7, 437–442 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Clark, C. W. & Levy, D. A. Am. Nat. (in the press).

  33. Houston, A. I. & McNamara, J. M. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 17, 135–141 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Houston, A., Clark, C., McNamara, J. et al. Dynamic models in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. Nature 332, 29–34 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/332029a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/332029a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation