{"product_id":"the-evolution-of-animal-communication-reliability-and-deception-in-signaling-systems","title":"The Evolution of Animal Communication: Reliability and Deception in Signaling Systems","description":"\u003cp\u003eGull chicks beg for food from their parents. Peacocks spread their tails to attract potential mates. Meerkats alert family members of the approach of predators. But are these--and other animals--sometimes dishonest? Thats what William Searcy and Stephen Nowicki ask in The Evolution of Animal Communication. They take on the fascinating yet perplexing question of the dependability of animal signaling systems.  The book probes such phenomena as the begging of nesting birds  alarm calls in squirrels and primates  carotenoid coloration in fish and birds  the calls of frogs and toads  and weapon displays in crustaceans. Do these signals convey accurate information about the signaler  its future behavior  or its environment? Or do they mislead receivers in a way that benefits the signaler? For example  is the begging chick really hungry as its cries indicate or is it lobbying to get more food than its brothers and sisters?  Searcy and Nowicki take on these and other questions by developing clear definitions of key issues  by reviewing the most relevant empirical data and game theory models available  and by asking how well theory matches data. They find that animal communication is largely reliable--but that this basic reliability also allows the clever deceiver to flourish. Well researched and clearly written  their book provides new insight into animal communication  behavior  and evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964158668853,"sku":"ByrdShop_0691070954","price":81.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780691070957.jpg?v=1770451375","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-evolution-of-animal-communication-reliability-and-deception-in-signaling-systems","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}