Course Resources Archive

This module investigates aspects of evolution and its links to ecology and animal behaviour. There will be a special focus on the evolution of social animals, especially the social insects, and on the development of theoretical frameworks to understand patterns of behaviour and evolution. The importance of behavioural and evolutionary ecology to conservation will also be examined. Theoretical and empirical studies will be brought together to provide a thorough understanding of why animals, plants and other organisms do what they do. This module develops and combines concepts introduced in NS4201 Diversity and Evolution and NS5207 Animal Behaviour.

We cover the evolution of life histories, including the marginal value theorem and decision-making applied to animals, plants and microorganisms. Group behaviours and the selfish-herd theory, game theory, evolutionary stable strategies and the evolutionary origins of cooperation, conflict and cheating are considered. Social evolution and kin selection are discussed, with a special emphasis on the social insects. Evolutionary views of disease and parasitism are reviewed. Animal and plant communication and its evolutionary role, and the evolution of sex, are also examined.

1. Critically apply evolutionary knowledge to ecological and behavioural scenarios

2. Critically evaluate the role of evolutionary ecology in the behaviours seen in a variety of animal groups

3.Understand the use of, and apply, graphical and simple mathematical models

4. Conduct a comprehensive search for original research literature pertinent to a selected area of evolutionary ecology

5. Conduct a critical and objective analysis of published research

6. Judge the merit of potentially controversial theories based on a critical and objective analysis of published research

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.