BIOL 23 Social Evolution: Cooperation and Construction Among Animal Architects

For the evolution of social life, cooperation raises a fundamental problem. Indeed, Darwin regarded cooperation as one of the greatest puzzles for his theory of evolution. If natural selection favors individuals that selfishly maximize their own reproductive success, then why should organisms cooperate at all? Yet evidence for cooperation is ubiquitous in many social animals, from insects to humans. This course will explore how and why cooperation evolves, with the goal of understanding general ecological and evolutionary principles, especially the conditions under which social organisms work together to help one another despite competition and conflicting interests. A central theme of the course will be cases of cooperation in which social animals architecturally construct their surroundings, by building long-lasting shelters. 

Instructor

Laidre

Prerequisite

BIOL 15 or BIOL 16

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:SCI

Distributive and/or World Culture

SCI

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Offered

• Winter