Abstract
Accepting Novikoff’s notion of integrative levels (IL) in biology, we find that ethology is concerned predominantly with the IL of organisms. When we try to understand the evolutionary process, including the evolution of behavior, we must evoke, in addition to the IL of organisms, specific properties of the ILs of populations, ecosystems, and subcellular elements (genes). Because these four ILs are linked, any claim that evolution can be explained on the basis of principles solely at one level is ludicrous.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ashby, W. R. (1956). An Introduction to Cybernetics, Wiley, New York.
Alexander, R. D., and Borgia, G. (1978). Group selection, altruism, and the levels of organization of life. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 9: 449-474.
Dawkins, R. (1976). The Selfish Gene, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Freedman, D. R. (1979). Human Sociobiology, The Free Press, New York.
Lewontin, R. C. (1970). The units of selection. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 1: 1–18.
Lewontin, R. C. (1974). The Genetic Basis of Evolutionary Change, Columbia University Press, New York.
Lorenz, K. (1941). Vergleichende Bewegungsstudien an Anatiden. J. Ornitol. 89:194–293 (Engl, transl. in Lorenz 1971 ).
Lorenz, K. (1965). Evolution and Modification of Behavior, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Lorenz, K. ( 1970, 1971 ). Studies in Animal and Human Behavior, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Novikoff, A. B. (1945). The concept of integrative levels and biology. Science 101: 209–215.
Odum, E. P. (1959). Fundamendals of Ecology, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia.
Schleidt, W. M., and Crawley, J. N. (1980). Patterns in the behavior of organisms. J. Social Biol. Struct. 3: 1–15.
Wilson, E. O. (1975). Sociobiology, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Wynne-Edwards, V. C. (1962). Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behavior, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.
Zadeh, L. A. (1965). Fuzzy sets, inform, and Control 8: 338–353.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schleidt, W.M. (1981). The Behavior of Organisms, as it is Linked to Genes and Populations. In: Bateson, P.P.G., Klopfer, P.H. (eds) Perspectives in Ethology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7575-7_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7575-7_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7577-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7575-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive