Ecological Dynamics

Altruism is a central issue in human behaviour. Its evolution and the biological precursors are a hotly debated conundrum in biology, as at first glance the genetic fitness effects of altruistic behaviour seem to contradict Darwinian evolutionary theory. I will present research on different forms of altruistic behaviour among insects, fishes and mammals demonstrating that altruistic behaviour can be produced and stabilised by natural selection. Key players are relatedness among actors and different forms of reciprocal exchange.

Grasslands cover two thirds of all agricultural lands globally and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. However, it is estimated that 20-50% of the world’s grazed grasslands are degraded. In this talk, I discuss the adverse environmental consequences of grazing and the current strategies to mitigate them. I present a novel approach to, based on tracking cow movement patterns, assess the impact of different grazing practices in soil health. Finally, I describe how this approach can be used to derive insights of long-term effects of grazing on the environment and, with this, to help developing sustainable grazing techniques.

Sex is an expensive affair, biologically speaking. In many species with distinct sexes, the cost of reproduction is unequal: eggs are costly and scarce, while sperm are abundant and tiny. Finding a suitable mate and raising offspring also consumes time and energy. Charles Darwin's patriarchal worldview led him to interpret animal behavior through the prism of aggressive males and passive females, dismissing female agency. I will present my work on the evolution of animal weapons and rhinoceros beetles to illustrate how studies centered on females can change our perspective of the animal kingdom.