Primate Behaviour and Ecology

Description

Undergraduate Module Content   The mammalian order of primates consists of hundreds of species – including our own. Like all animals, lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys and apes are faced with the problems of how to survive, breed and rear offspring. The course focuses on current Darwinian theories about how ecological factors influence the development of primate societies, how individuals negotiate their relationships, and how the challenges of sociality mould cognitive abilities. The module also aims to create awareness about the plight of our closest living relatives as their existence on this planet is increasingly endangered. The seminar is designed to develop core skills in critical thinking by examining contemporary issues in primatology.   Indicative Topics The module will cover the following topics, which may be subject to variation depending on developments in academic research and the interests of the class: Primate socioecology Primate life history Aggression and infanticide Primate conservation Primate cognition Primate culture   Learning Outcomes By the end of the module, you will be able to: classify species of the major primate groups describe the major concepts in primate biology apply evolutionary theory to understand primate behaviour integrate and evaluate information from primary and secondary sources to critique an argument identify a gap in the literature and design a research programme to address this gap   Delivery Method One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week.   Additional Information Please note the assessment titles may be subject to change.   Postgraduate Module Content The mammalian order of primates consists of hundreds of species – including our own. Like all animals, lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys and apes are faced with the problems of how to survive, breed and rear offspring. The course focuses on current Darwinian theories about how ecological factors influence the development of primate societies, how individuals negotiate their relationships, and how the challenges of sociality mould cognitive abilities. The module also aims to create awareness about the plight of our closest living relatives as their existence on this planet is increasingly endangered. The seminar is designed to develop core skills in critical thinking by examining contemporary issues in primatology.   Indicative Topics The module will cover the following topics, which may be subject to variation depending on developments in academic research and the interests of the class: Primate socioecology Primate life history Aggression and infanticide Primate conservation Primate cognition Primate culture   Learning Outcomes By the end of the module, you will be able to: classify species of the major primate groups describe the major concepts in primate biology apply evolutionary theory to understand primate behaviour integrate and evaluate information from primary and secondary sources to critique an argument design a research programme to address a question identify a gap in the literature and design a research programme to address this gap understand the life cycle of a research article and identify biases that affect the scientific record   Delivery Method One 2-hour seminar per week. PGT students are encouraged to attend the UG lecture (optional). Please note the assessment titles may be subject to change.