300600 VO Vertebrate Social Systems II (2009W)

This lecture is complimentary to VO 300027 (Social Systems - Vertebrates with a special emphasis on mechanisms). Contrary to VO 300027, in which the ¿How - questions' of animal social systems are discussed, this lecture will cover the ¿Why'. Since the proposal of the concept "Inclusive Fitness", outstanding progress has been made in the study of the evolution of animal sociality. This lecture will cover the functions of vertebrate social systems, which are based on ecological conditions as well as reproductive strategies of males and females. It will touch on conditions and constraints of social evolution, costs and benefits of social systems, and discuss specific topics that maintain animal sociality, such as e.g. inclusive fitness, flexible strategies, cooperation and competition, social support and helper-systems.