| Unit name | Mammalian Ecology and Sociobiology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL31117 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
| Unit director | Professor. Harris |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Normally 120cps of appropriate Level 2 units in Biological Sciences |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This unit will examine in detail the evolution and radiation of the mammals, and in particular their diversity and specialisations, from a socioecological view point. The main theme of the unit will be to look at the evolution of complex social behaviour patterns and group living in the mammals and their ecological consequences. Examples will be drawn from all the major mammalian taxa. Topics to be given special consideration will be a review of mammalian social systems, the ontogeny of mammalian behaviour patterns, the evolution of parental care systems, social odours and other forms of communication in mammals, resource partitioning in selected mammalian groups, the evolution of group living and social cohesion in mammals, and primate ecology.
