Syllabus
1. Introduction, history and theory Williams G.C. 1992: Natural selection: domains, levels, and challenges. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 208 pp. Kennedy J.S. 1992: The new anthropomorphism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 194 pp. Dawkins R. (1982): The Extended Phenotype. Oxford-San Francisco, 307 pp.
2. Individual, kin, group and species recognition Acomys cahirinus, Mus domesticus, Ambystoma tigrinum,
3. Evolution of eusociality in Hymenoptera Phylogenetic pattern of eusociality in Hymenoptera, Polistes, haplodiploidy, coefficients of relatedness and sex ratio, alternative teories concerning eusociality, Formica truncorum.
4. Life history and eusociality in ants Phylogeny of ants, species with primitive social organisation, castes, arm ants, Eciton, Dorylus.
5. Cooperation and conflict within the nest and social parasitism Evolution of inquilinism and dulosis, Formica sanguinea, Polyergus rufescens, Epimyrma, aj. pleometrosis. Azteca.
6. Sociality and eusociality in termites Single-site nesters, central-site nesters, life-history, ontogenetic pathways and casts, reproductive skew.
7. Euociality in other insects, behavioral ecology of cockroaches Eusocial insects an overview, Cryptocercus.
9. Behavioral ecology of birds
10. Brood parasites I. Evolution of cuckooldry, Crotophaga sulcirostris, Struthio; Intraspecific parasitism. Obligatory interspecific parasitism: Cuculus canorus, Clamator glandarius. Mafia hypothesis.
11. Brood parasites II. Molothridae, Indicatoridae, Vidua; Phylogenetic pattern.
12. Communication, honest signalling, conflict
13. Territoriality and its consequences
14. Optimal foraging theory Optimal foraging, time and energy budgets.
15. Specialisation Ecological conservatism versus exploratory behaviour, personality, features of migrants, play and neotenia, cultural evolution. Cities as islands, synanthropic way of life, domestication, coevolution of animals and humans.
Annotation
Please note, the lectures are given in Czech language. English version of the course can be requested in advance if there are at least 3 students.
History and basic ideas of sociobiology; genetics of behaviours; advantages od sociality, reciprocal altruism and co-operation; kin altruism, helpers, family; individual and kin recognition, origin of eusociality: Hymenoptera, termites, other insects, mammals; infanticide; parental conflict; siblicide; brood parasitism; communication, honest signals; territoriality and its consequences; mating systems - monogamy, polyandry, polygyny, lek, promiscuity, reproductive systems in insects, ungulates, rodents, carnivores; foraging and feeding behaviour; learning and evolution