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{{further|Signalling theory}}
{{further|Signalling theory}}


Zahavi is best known for his work on the [[handicap principle]], which explains the [[evolution]] of characteristics, behaviors or structures that appear contrary to the principles of Darwinian evolution in that they appear to reduce fitness and endanger individual organisms.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Zahavi, Amotz|year=1975|title=Mate selection-A selection for a Handicap|journal=[[J Theor Biol]]|volume=53|pages=205–214|url=http://www.eebweb.arizona.edu/Faculty/Dornhaus/courses/materials/papers/other/Zahavi%20sexual%20selection%20handicap%20model%20signal.pdf|format=PDF|doi=10.1016/0022-5193(75)90111-3|pmid=1195756|issue=1}}</ref> Evolved by [[sexual selection]], these act as signals of the status of the organism, functioning to e. g. attract mates. He expanded it with theories on [[Signalling theory|honest signalling]] and the idea that selection would favour signals that impose a higher cost, those that are not easily cheated on.
Zahavi is best known for his work on the [[handicap principle]], which explains the [[evolution]] of characteristics, behaviors or structures that appear contrary to the principles of Darwinian evolution in that they appear to reduce fitness and endanger individual organisms.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Zahavi, Amotz|year=1975|title=Mate selection-A selection for a Handicap|journal=[[J Theor Biol]]|volume=53|pages=205–214|url=http://www.eebweb.arizona.edu/Faculty/Dornhaus/courses/materials/papers/other/Zahavi%20sexual%20selection%20handicap%20model%20signal.pdf|format=PDF|doi=10.1016/0022-5193(75)90111-3|pmid=1195756|issue=1}}</ref> Evolved by [[sexual selection]], these act as signals of the status of the organism, functioning to e. g. attract mates. He expanded it with theories on [[Signalling theory|honest signalling]] and the idea that selection would favour signals that impose a higher cost, those that are not easily cheated on. He worked in particular on the [[Arabian babbler]], a long-lived and social bird with [[altruist]]ic behaviour among unrelated individuals, not explainable by kin selection. Zahavi reinterpreted these behaviours according to his signal theory and its correlative, the handicap principle. The altruistic act is costly to the donor, but may improve attractiveness to potential mates, a form of [[competitive altruism]].<ref name=Zahavi1974>{{cite journal |author=Zahavi, Amotz |year=1974 |title=Communal nesting by the Arabian Babbler: A case of individual selection |journal=Ibis|volume=116 |pages=84–87 |doi=10.1111/j.1474-919X.1974.tb00225.x}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anava | first1=A. | last2=Kam | first2=M. | last3=Shkolnik | first3=A. | last4=Degen | first4=A. A. |year=2001 |jstor=4089815 |title=Does group size affect field metabolic rate of Arabian Babbler (''Turdoides squamiceps'') nestlings? |journal=The Auk |volume=118 |pages=525–528 |url=http://sora.unm.edu/node/131937}}</ref><ref name=Zahavi1990>Zahavi, Amotz (1990). "Arabian Babblers: The quest for social status in a cooperative Breeder", pp. 105–130 in ''Cooperative Breeding in Birds'', P. B. Stacey and W. D. Koenig (eds.), Cambridge University Press</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==

Revision as of 19:04, 13 May 2017

Amotz Zahavi
Amotz Zahavi
Born(1928-01-01)January 1, 1928
Petah Tikva, British Mandate of Palestine
DiedMay 12, 2017(2017-05-12) (aged 89)
Tel Aviv, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materTel Aviv University
Known forHandicap principle
Scientific career
FieldsBiology
InstitutionsTel Aviv University
Amotz Zahavi

Amotz Zahavi (Template:Lang-he) (January 1, 1928 – May 12, 2017) was an Israeli evolutionary biologist, a Professor in the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, and one of the founders of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (known as the "SPNI"). His main work concerned the evolution of signals, particularly those signals that are indicative fitness, and their selection.

Biography

Amotz Zahavi received his Ph.D from Tel Aviv University in 1970. He was married to Avishag Zahavi, a biologist and a co-investigator.

Scientific career

Further information: Signalling theory

Zahavi is best known for his work on the handicap principle, which explains the evolution of characteristics, behaviors or structures that appear contrary to the principles of Darwinian evolution in that they appear to reduce fitness and endanger individual organisms.[1] Evolved by sexual selection, these act as signals of the status of the organism, functioning to e. g. attract mates. He expanded it with theories on honest signalling and the idea that selection would favour signals that impose a higher cost, those that are not easily cheated on. He worked in particular on the Arabian babbler, a long-lived and social bird with altruistic behaviour among unrelated individuals, not explainable by kin selection. Zahavi reinterpreted these behaviours according to his signal theory and its correlative, the handicap principle. The altruistic act is costly to the donor, but may improve attractiveness to potential mates, a form of competitive altruism.[2][3][4]

Awards

In 1980, Zahavi, together with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and two other colleagues, was awarded the Israel Prize for SPNI's special contribution to society and the State, for the environment.[5]

In 2011, Zahavi received the International Fyssen Prize for the evolution of social communication.[6]

In 2016, Zahavi received a prize for lifetime achievement from the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences.[7]

Published works

  • Zahavi, A (1975). "Mate selection - a selection for a handicap". Journal of Theoretical Biology. 53 (1): 205–214. doi:10.1016/0022-5193(75)90111-3. PMID 1195756.
  • Zahavi, A (1977). "The cost of honesty (Further remarks on the handicap principle)". Journal of Theoretical Biology. 67 (3): 603–605. doi:10.1016/0022-5193(77)90061-3. PMID 904334.
  • Zahavi, A. and Zahavi, A. (1997). The handicap principle: a missing piece of Darwin's puzzle. Oxford University Press. Oxford. ISBN 0-19-510035-2

See also

References

  1. ^ Zahavi, Amotz (1975). "Mate selection-A selection for a Handicap" (PDF). J Theor Biol. 53 (1): 205–214. doi:10.1016/0022-5193(75)90111-3. PMID 1195756.
  2. ^ Zahavi, Amotz (1974). "Communal nesting by the Arabian Babbler: A case of individual selection". Ibis. 116: 84–87. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1974.tb00225.x.
  3. ^ Anava, A.; Kam, M.; Shkolnik, A.; Degen, A. A. (2001). "Does group size affect field metabolic rate of Arabian Babbler (Turdoides squamiceps) nestlings?". The Auk. 118: 525–528. JSTOR 4089815.
  4. ^ Zahavi, Amotz (1990). "Arabian Babblers: The quest for social status in a cooperative Breeder", pp. 105–130 in Cooperative Breeding in Birds, P. B. Stacey and W. D. Koenig (eds.), Cambridge University Press
  5. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1980 (in Hebrew)".
  6. ^ "International Fyssen Prize".
  7. ^ רינת, צפריר (2016-06-15). "פרס מפעל חיים לפרופ' אמוץ זהבי על שמירת הטבע". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2016-07-30.
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