It is this complex dynamic between conflict and cooperation that Ross Crozier and Pekka Pamilo consider in this excellent book ... Crozier and Pamilo's book is an excellent resource for those interested in a mathematical approach to kin conflicts and sex-ratio theory. The use of elegant kin-selection models also makes Crozier and Pamilo's book highly suitable for a course on theoretical modelling. * Laurent Keller, University of Luasanne, Nature, Vol. 380, 1996 * Evolution of Social Insect Colonies is the most comprehensive treatment to date of issues of sex allocation and kin selection ... I recommend the book as an introduction for novices, as well as a refresher for veterans in the field. It undoubtedly will provide ample inspiration to research on social insects. * Ulrich G. Mueller, University of Maryland, Science, Vol. 274, November 1996 * the authors give excellent explanations of the predicted responses of colony members using kin-selection based models ... an excellent review of both the theory and field data for sex allocation in social Hymenoptera ... I believe Darwin would be delighted at the current understanding of worker 'altruism', and would place this book highly on his list of 'must reads'. * George Chan, Zoological Society of London, Heredity, 78 * Evolution of Social Insect Colonies concisely presents a diversity of kin-selection models aimed at defining social insect life ... this book should be read by all budding insect sociobiologists, ideally long before they study their first colony or touch their first pipettor. Furthermore, sections of the book provide great tutorials for topics of general interest to evolutionary biologists. * Jay D. Evans, University of Georgia, TREE, vol. 12, no. 6 June 1997 * The book is an excellent review of social evolution and sex allocation theory by two of the masters in the field. ... the book is well written, thorough, and superbly referenced. It should become a standard guide for those working towards improving our understanding of the lives of these most fascinating creatures. * Animal Behaviour, 54, 2 *
