Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgments; Notes on contributors; Introduction; Chapter 1 The caviomorph rodents: distribution and ecological diversification; 1.1 The caviomorph radiation; 1.2 The families; 1.2.1 Erethizontidae; 1.2.2 Chinchillidae; 1.2.3 Dinomyidae; 1.2.4 Caviidae; 1.2.5 Dasyproctidae; 1.2.6 Cuniculidae; 1.2.7 Abrocomidae; 1.2.8 Octodontidae; 1.2.9 Ctenomyidae; 1.2.10 Echimyidae; 1.2.11 Myocastoridae; 1.2.12 Capromyidae; 1.3 General social behavior; 1.4 Synthesis and future directions; 1.4 References

Chapter 2 Diversity of social behavior in caviomorph rodents2.1 Introduction; 2.2 The comparative approach in sociobiology; 2.2.1 Interspecific comparisons of social systems in caviomorphs; 2.3 Intraspecific variation in social systems of caviomorphs; 2.3.1 Space use; 2.3.2 Sociality; 2.3.3 Mating systems; 2.3.4 Summary; 2.4 Future directions; 2.4.1 Comparative studies; 2.4.2 New techniques for collecting and analyzing social interaction data; 2.4.3 Multiple hypothesis testing; 2.4.4 Integrating laboratory and field approaches; 2.5 Conclusion; 2.5 References

Chapter 3 Comparative neurobiology and genetics of mammalian social behavior3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Molecular and circuit bases of social behavior; 3.2.1 Oxytocin and vasopressin; 3.2.2 Neuropeptides, parenting, and monogamy; 3.2.3 Neuropeptides and sociality; 3.2.4 Dopamine; 3.2.5 Stress-related molecules; 3.3 Genes and social behavior; 3.3.1 Oxytocin receptor polymorphisms; 3.3.2 Vasopressin receptor 1A promoter variation; 3.4 Mechanisms of sociality in caviomorphs; 3.4.1 OT and AVP in caviomorphs; 3.4.2 Stress and social behavior in caviomorphs; 3.4.3 Other approaches; 3.5 Future directions

3.5.1 Caviomorphs as model organisms3.5.2 Predicting behavior from neurochemistry; 3.5 References; Chapter 4 Developmental underpinnings of social behavior; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Prenatal epigenetic factors: intrauterine position and prenatal stress; 4.3 Formation, strength and persistence of attachment bonds in early infancy; 4.3.1 Attachment behavior in infant degus; 4.3.2 Attachment behavior in infant guinea pigs; 4.4 Social deprivation during infancy and consequences of breaking social bonds; 4.4.1 Social deprivation effects on the emotional and social development of young degus

4.4.2 Social deprivation effects on the emotional and social development of young guinea pigs4.5 Discussion and future research directions; 4.5 References; Chapter 5 Dispersal in caviomorph rodents; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 What is dispersal?; 5.3 Studying dispersal: logistic challenges; 5.4 Dispersal in caviomorph rodents; 5.5 Understanding dispersal: adaptive explanations; 5.5.1 Why do individuals disperse?; 5.5.2 Why is dispersal male-biased?; 5.6 Understanding dispersal: proximate explanations; 5.7 Consequences of dispersal: social behavior; 5.8 Consequences of dispersal: genetic structure

Fully integrative approach to the socibiology of caviomorph rodents -Brings together research on social systems with that on epigenetic, neurendocrine and developmental mechanisms of social behavior -Describes the social systems of many previously understudied caviomorph species, identifying the fitness costs and benefits of social living in current day populations as well as quantified evolutionary patterns or trends -Highlights potential parallels and differences with other animal models

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.