SOCIOBIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF COOPERATION
ECOL 280
Instructor:
Dr. Anna Dornhaus
Office: Bio Sciences West 235
Office Hours: TR 11:00am-12:30pm
Email: dornhaus@email.arizona.edu
Teaching Assistant:
TBD
Description of course
Why do animals and other organisms sometimes compete and sometimes cooperate?
How do organisms in groups interact, how do they organize themselves or make group
decisions? This course will give you some answers to these questions. We will discuss
how social behavior evolves, and how it changes the life style of the animals that display
it. We will also discuss whether this research can teach us about human social behavior.
Learning objectives
You will not only learn about the diversity of social systems, but also understand how
ecology and evolution shape organisms and their behavior. You will learn to read and
understand original scientific literature, and to critically discuss it. By giving a
presentation in the course you will practice to structure and communicate what you have
learned.
Lecture outline/ Topics
0. Introduction; what is social behavior?
1. Social organisms
1.1. Altruism, kin-selection, and mammal social systems
1.2. From aggregation to society; social systems in other vertebrates
1.3. Ecological role and diversity of social organisms; social insects and other
arthropods
1.4. Reproductive division of labor; colonial invertebrates, social microorganisms
2. Evolution of sociality and cooperation
2.1. Social foraging
2.2. Adaptations and constraints in social evolution
2.3. Predator defense
2.4. Other advantages of sociality (mating, thermoregulation, nest building, brood
care)
3. Mechanisms of social behavior
3.1. Mechanisms of aggregation and reproduction
3.2. Interactions in the group; communication, recognition, policing
3.3. Collective behavior; self-organization, dominance, task allocation, collective
decisions
4. Can Sociobiology teach us about human behavior?
4.1. The controversy
4.2. Evolutionary psychology; problems with studies on humans
Teaching format
The course will consist mostly of lectures, but discussions in class form a significant part
of the course. Another significant part of the course are presentations by students.
Required textbook
Gadagkar, R. Survival strategies: cooperation and conflict in animal societies. 1997,
Harvard University Press.
Other required reading materials, as well as optional reading, will be made available on
the course website on D2L.
Other requirements
When the semester starts, you will have access to a course website at
http://d2l.arizona.edu. To access your course on D2L you must have a UA NetID and be
officially enrolled in the course for at least 24 hours. Your browser and its settings must
be compatible with D2L. You must be able to check the course website at least weekly to
get readings and submit assignments. This can be done from computers on campus.
Assignments and grading
Student presentations
Students will form groups of 5, and together prepare a presentation (total 20 minutes) on
a self-selected topic relating to class (on social behavior in an evolutionary context).
Advice on how to prepare a presentation will be given in the lecture.
Paper summaries
Students will choose four papers from the original literature and, over the course of the
semester, write an abstract (max. 300 words, about half a page) about each paper
summarizing its results and their view on it. Assignments turned in after their due dates
will be graded at ½ of the points available. All assignments have to be turned in online in
the appropriate dropbox on D2L.
Exams
There will be three exams (first, mid-term, final). The final exam will cover the whole
course (comprehensive exam). Exams are mostly long-answer format.
Class participation
Although the class is mostly a lecture course, we will have frequent in-class discussions.
Your participation in such discussions, as well as your ability to ask and answer questions
in class, are valuable learning goals and part of your final grade. In addition, there will be
frequent mini-quizzes on assigned readings, which will also enter into your ‘class
participation’ grade.
Grading
Your final grade will be determined by the percentage of the total number of points
accumulated from exams, the presentation, assignments, and class participation.
First exam
Mid-term exam
Final exam
Presentation
Paper summaries
Class participation
Total
Points (and %)
10
15
25
20
(5 points each =) 20
10
100
A: 90-100 %
B: 80-89 %
C: 70-79 %
D: 60-69 %
E (fail): 0-59 %
Students with Disabilities
Students who need special accommodation or services should contact the Disability
Resources Center, 1224 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, (520) 621-3268, FAX
(520) 621-9423, email: uadrc@email.arizona.edu, http://drc.arizona.edu/. You must
register and request that the Center or DRC send me official notification of your
accommodations needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment
or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and
activities may impact your ability to fully participate. The need for accommodations must
be documented by the appropriate office.
Classroom Behavior
From the Student Code of Conduct: “The educational process is ideally conducted in an
environment that encourages reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, openness to
constructive change and respect for the rights of all individuals. Self discipline and a
respect for the rights of others in the university community are necessary for the
fulfillment of such goals.” Please review this section of the Student Code of Conduct at
http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/studcofc.htm
“The University seeks to promote a safe environment where students and employees may
participate in the educational process without compromising their health, safety or
welfare.” Please review the university’s Policy on Threatening Behavior by Students at
http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml.
This means that all cell phones must be turned off for the duration of the class. Students
may not read newspapers or other material unrelated to class during class sessions.
Student Code of Academic Integrity
Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and
applications of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of
independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA
Code of Academic Integrity as described in the UA General Catalog. See:
http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/.
Do not quote verbatim from source materials in your written assignments. Always
rephrase in your own words. Also, always list any references/source materials used
(books, journal papers, websites).
Confidentiality of Student Records
http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/ferpa/default.htm
Absence Policies
Your participation in class discussions, your ability to ask questions during class, and
your feedback on other students’ presentations are important parts of this class and of
your grade. We will also have frequent mini-quizzes on required readings. For these
reasons, you should aim to attend all class sessions.
All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those
students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the
UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored.
If you are sick or need to miss class for a valid reason, notify the instructor BEFORE that
class. Bring a doctor’s note for longer absences.
Subject to Change Statement
Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy,
may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.