Author Description

Arguing that cannibalism is a straightforward behaviour with far-reaching implications for a species' ecology, life history and evolution, this book covers the contextual and taxonomic diversity of cannibalism and explains its costs, benefits and consequences for a taxonomically broad distribution of species from lower eukaryotes to higher primates. The authors use theory developed for the analysis of foraging, sociality, demography and genetics to assess the ecological and evolutionary causes and effects of cannibalism. The emerging picture from recent research challenges the view that cannibalism is either abnormal behaviour or an infrequent addition to the predator's usual diet.