Comparative Primate Socioecology

Comparative studies have become both more frequent and more important as
a means for understanding the biology, behaviour and evolution of
mammals. Primates have complex social relationships and diverse
ecologies, and represent a large species radiation. This book draws
together a wide range of experts from fields as diverse as reproductive
biology and foraging energetics to place recent field research into a
synthetic perspective. The chapters tackle controversial issues in
primate biology and behaviour, including the role of brain expansion and
infanticide in the evolution of primate behavioural strategies. The
book also presents an overview of comparative methodologies as applied
to recent primate research which will provide new approaches to
comparative research. It will be of particular interest to
primatologists, behavioural ecologists and those interested in the
evolution of human social behaviour.