BIOL 134. Evolution of Animal Societies

All animals interact with members of their own species as some point in their lives most animals live in groups and repeatedly interact with the same individuals. The structure and
composition of these societies shapes and is shaped by evolutionary processes. This course will take an evolutionary perspective to tackle topics such as why animals live in groups, what ecological forces shape the structure of societies, why have complex societies evolved, and how does living in a society affect the evolution of animal bodies and behavior. As an honors seminar, the majority of the work will focus on reading and discussing the primary literature with a special focus on social network analysis. Students in the course will practice
communicating complex ideas through a variety of means including scientific figures, posters, and outreach tools.
Prerequisite: BIOL 002 and (1) Group III Biology course (BIOL 03X or BIOL 13X) or permission of the instructor. Prerequisite Intermediate or Seminar Course sucessfully completed with a grade of B (3.0) or better.
Natural sciences and engineering.
1 Credit.
Fall 2025. Formica.
Catalog chapter: Biology
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/biology

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