Description
Book SynopsisA primer on self-organization in biological systems for students and other enthusiasts, this book introduces readers to the basic concepts and tools for studying self-organization and then examines numerous examples of self-organization in the natural world.
Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2002 Winner of the 2001 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Biological Science, Association of American Publishers "We suspect that the ideas associated with self-organization will play an increasingly prominent role in biology for some time to come... Self-Organization in Biological Systems presents a unique opportunity to watch a group of active researchers apply these intriguing concepts to formerly mystifying feats of social organization in animals. We know of no better guide for those who wish to understand how modeling can be used to dissect the mechanisms of self-organized biological systems."--John W. Pepper and Guy Hoelzer, Science "[An] exceptionally well organized and superbly illustrated volume."--Choice "An important contribution to biology, and to complex systems research more generally, and certainly an enthralling subject."--Carl Anderson, Complexity "This is a fascinating and thought-provoking book... The authors provide an excellent introduction to the main ideas underlying the theory of self-organization and also deal with some of the criticisms leveled at this emerging field... An eminently readable and stimulating book."--Jens Krause and Iain Couzin, The Quarterly Review of Biology "This book is an entertaining and well-written introduction to the basics of self-organization... Given the clear prose and interesting examples, this book should have wide appeal."--Diane Lipscomb, Science Books & Film "Considering the complexity of the subject, this account is surprisingly and pleasantly accessible and readable. It is one of the few biology books that will appeal equally to research workers and undergraduates."--Bulletin of the British Ecological Society "Broad in scope, thorough yet accessible, this book is a self-contained introduction to self-organization and complexity in biology--at the forefront of life sciences research."--Zentralblatt MATH
Table of ContentsExplanation of Color Plates vii Prologue: Aims and Scope of the Book 2 Part I. Introduction to Biological Self-Organization 5 Chapter 1. What Is Self-Organization? 7 Chapter 2. How Self-Organization Works 15 Chapter 3. Characteristics of Self-Organizing Systems 29 Chapter 4. Alternatives to Self-Organization 47 Chapter 5. Why Self-Organization? 63 Chapter 6. Investigation of Self-Organization 69 Chapter 7. Misconceptions about Self-Organization 88 Part II. Case Studies 93 Chapter 8. Pattern Formation in Slime Molds and Bacteria 95 Chapter 9. Feeding Aggregations of Bark Beetles 121 Chapter 10. Synchronized Flashing among Fireflies 143 Chapter 11. Fish Schooling 167 Chapter 12. Nectar Source Selection by Honey Bees 189 Chapter 13. Trail Formation in Ants 217 Chapter 14. The Swarm Raids of Army Ants 257 Chapter 15. Colony Thermoregulation in Honey Bees 285 Chapter 16. Comb Patterns in Honey Bee Colonies 309 Chapter 17. Wall Building by Ants 341 Chapter 18. Termite Mound Building 377 Chapter 19. Construction Algorithms in Wasps 405 Chapter 20. Dominance Hierarchies in Paper Wasps 443 Part III. Conclusions 483 Chapter 21. Lessons, Speculations, and the Future of Self-Organization 485 Notes 495 References 497 Index 525
