Constraints on adaptations during the evolution of mammalian social systems

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• Dieter Lukas - Cambridge University
• Tuesday 12 February 2013, 16:00-17:00
• Part II Lecture Theatre, Department of Zoology.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Oskar Brattstrom.

While we consider social behaviour to be highly flexible, studies frequently show closely related species which share the same social system despite differing in ecology. Researchers performing quantitative species comparisons generally account for the statistical confounds of similarity due to shared ancestry, but have seldom attempted to explain why the social behaviour has remained the same.

In this talk I will argue that phylogenetic effects are in many instances a consequence of past adaptations within a lineage which constrain the form and direction of subsequent evolution. I will illustrate the importance of constraints by describing recent studies of the evolution of cooperative breeding and monogamy in mammals.

This talk is part of the Behaviour, Ecology & Evolution Seminar Series series.

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