Learning objectives
<p>The evolutionary approach to the study of behaviour is of crucial importance to understand its adaptive value. Hence, this part of the course of Comportamento Animale (Animal Behaviour) is aimed to provide the student with the essential knowledge and tools to analyse classical and more recent topics of the ecology of animal behaviour, by using also a methodological and an experimental approach. The socond part of the course will deal with the biological bases of social behaviour in animals and humans, with particular regard to the selective pressure that determined the development and evolution of different kinds of social organization. Particular attention will be devoted to analyse the different aspects of living together, and the conflicts and cooperation phenomena that occur among members of social groups. The student will acquire the basic concepts of sociobiology and will become confident with its methodology so to adequately approach sociobiological problems. </p>
Prerequisites
Basic concepts of Ethology and Behavioural Ecology
Course unit content
<p> The Course examines the behavioural strategies evolved by animals to tackle different ecological requirements. It deals with the adaptive value of individual and social behaviour and how it contributes to animal fitness. The Course analyses the relationships among animals, resources and behavioural strategies to exploit them, trying to identify ultimate causes of the considered strategies. The Course is also aimed to provide information on the basic methodology of behavioural ecology and sociobiology research by analysing models and specific case studies. <br />
</p>
<p><strong>Part 1 - Behavioural Ecology</strong></p>
<p>1) PINCIPLES AND METHODS OF BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY <br />
2) SOME BASIC CONCEPTS: <br />
- Natural selection, environment and behaviour <br />
- Adaptation <br />
- Economy of individual choices, cost/benefit balance <br />
- Optimization <br />
3) COEVOLUTION: <br />
- General concepts <br />
- Predators and preys, parasites and hosts: an evolutionary arm race <br />
- Coevolution between plants and animals <br />
4) COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES: <br />
- Exploitative competition <br />
- Competition through defence and interference <br />
- Economy of resource defence <br />
5) ECOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION <br />
- Males and females: the origin of diversity <br />
- Conflicts between sexes and sexual selection <br />
- Ecology of mating systems and parental care. <br />
6) BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY OF COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAL EVOLUTION <br />
- Structure and design of signals: ecology and evolution <br />
- Costs of communication and origin of signals <br />
</p>
<p><strong>Part 2 - SOCIOBIOLOGY</strong></p>
<p>1. INTRODUCTION <br />
Sociobiology: definition, aims and methods caratteristiche <br />
The social problem: to be or not to be. <br />
Prime forces of social evolution <br />
Levels of sociality <br />
Kinds of social grouping <br />
Recognition, Communication and division of roles: some principles. <br />
<br />
2. COOPERATION AND CONFLICT IN ANIMAL SOCIETIES <br />
2.1 COOPERATION AND GROUP LIVING <br />
- LIVING IN GROUP AND DEFENCE AGAINST PREDATORS - LIVING IN GROUP AND COOPERATION IN FINDING FOOD <br />
- REDUCE THE COSTS OF LIVING IN GROUPS <br />
<br />
2.2 ALTRUISM <br />
<br />
- GROUP SELECTION: Logic of group selection, validity and critics <br />
- KIN SELECTION <br />
- HELPING OTHERS TO REPRODUCE: altruist or selfish strategy? <br />
- RECIPROCAL ALTRUISM <br />
- SOCIAL PARASITISM <br />
<br />
2.3 CONFLICTS AND SOCIAL LIFE <br />
<br />
- BASIC CONCEPT OF BIOLOGY OF AGGRESSION <br />
- FIGHTING AND ASSESSMENT <br />
Evolutionarily Stable Strategies (ESS) <br />
Game theory <br />
Tactics and Strategies <br />
- DOMINANTS AND SUBORDINATES <br />
<br />
3. EUSOCIALITY <br />
<br />
4. BASIC CONCEPTS OF PRIMATE SOCIALITY <br />
<br />
5. HUMAN SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: an evolutionary approach <br />
</p>
Full programme
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Bibliography
<p><strong>Suggested Text books</strong> </p>
<p>ETOLOGIA – Un approccio evolutivo. (3 Ed) <br />
J. Alcock <br />
Zanichelli, Bologna (2007). </p>
<p>ECOLOGIA E COMPORTAMENTO ANIMALE. <br />
J.R. Krebs e N.B. Davies <br />
Boringhieri, Torino (2002). <br />
<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Further reading<br />
</strong><br />
COOPERATION AMONG ANIMALS: AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE <br />
L.A. Dugtkin. <br />
Oxford University Press (1997) <br />
<br />
SURVIVAL STRATEGIES: COOPERATION AND CONFLICT IN ANIMAL SOCIETIES. <br />
R. Gadagkar <br />
Harvard University Press (1997) </p>
Teaching methods
<strong>TEACHING</strong>: Lectures made using also multimedia tools, analysis of classic and peculiar case studies. <br />
<br />
<strong>EVALUATION</strong>: oral examination aimed to verify the capacity of the student to tackle problems of behavioural ecology using the methodological principles and knowledge acquired during the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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