Animal Architecture

by Mike Hansell

Overview

This monograph on the biology of animal building embraces all groups, from simple invertebrates to primate toolmakers. It looks at the behavioral and anatomical equipment animals have in order to build, as well as the materials available to them. It examines how architects are able, singly or collectively, to produce complex structures often much larger than themselves. It also looks at the costs of building, the properties of completed structures, the ecological impact of them ,and their effects on the evolution of animal builders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198507529
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/17/2005
Series:	Oxford Animal Biology Series
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	9.26(w) x 6.60(h) x 0.76(d)

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

1. Functions2. Building materials: nature, origins, and processing3. Behaviour and anatomy4. Work organization and building complexity5. Mechanics, growth, and design6. Building costs, optimal solutions, and trade-offs7. Animal architects as ecosystem engineers8. Evolution

Editorial Reviews

"This fascinating assemblage of the world's animal architects will fill a niche in all collections."—Booklist will fill a niche in all collections."—Booklist

"It's obvious from the writing that the author...has a strong passion for the minutiae of animal-made structures. With a small midsection of color photos, the volume is a worthy read for anyone with even a slightly academic interest in the projects animals undertake."—Sierra Club, The Green Life

From the Publisher