For quite a few years I have been preparing a book ‘Markets in Nature’, to be published by Cambridge UP. All chapters have now been written, apart from a short concluding one. I am currently processing reviews, adding pictures, and doing technical stuff. The contents can be found in the Table below. 

Contents

Introduction

Part 1 – Markets in biology

1 Why biological markets?

Box 1 - A biological market glossary

Box 2 - Market misconceptions

2 Theoretical issues and models

Box 1 - Models germane to biological markets

3 Economic vs Biological markets

Part 2 – Intra-specific markets

4 Coalitions and alliances

Box 1 - Negotiation without words

Box 2 - Weak partners

5 Primate groups as marketplaces 

Box 1 - Economic exchanges or bonds?

Box 2 – Despos and Egalos: Primate socio-ecology in a rather nutty nutshell

6 Cooperative breeding

7 Mating markets

Box 1 - Coming to terms with mating

Part 3 – Inter-specific markets

8 Cleaning mutualisms

9 Nursery pollination

10 Protection by ants

11 Underground markets

Box 1 - Underground adaptation levels

Part 4 – The future of BMT

12 What’s in store (not finished yet)

 last update of this page:  21 JAN 2026