Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
BB30132: Sexual conflict |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| ES 40%, MC 20%, SM 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take BB20040 |
| Description:
| Aims: To develop an understanding of sexual selection, and to explore how the antagonistic interests of males and females have shaped their behaviour, ecology and evolution. Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to: * explain the origin and the basic principles of sexual conflict; * describe the relationship of sexual conflict to a variety of behavioural strategies such as mate choice, mating systems and parental care; * critically evaluate the implications of sexual conflict for behaviour, ecology and phylogeny. Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F. Content: This course comprises of a series of lectures and group discussions. The topics will include the origin of sexual conflict; mate choice, mating systems and parental care; the influences of natural and sexual selection on sexual size dimorphism; the implications of sexual conflict for speciation and extinction. |