The use of vertebrate model systems to study social evolution
The use of vertebrate model systems to study social evolution 15 – 18 August 2009, Adelboden, Bernese Alps, Switzerland Invited speakers: Prof. Nadia Aubin-Horth, Université de Montréal, Canada Prof. Sigal Balshine, McMaster University, Canada Prof. Tim Clutton-Brock, University of Cambridge, UK Prof. Jan Komdeur, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands Dr. David S. Richardson, University of East Anglia, UK Summary: To understand the evolution of complex social organization (including structured groups, cooperation between group members, task sharing, individualized relationships, divergent social roles) we need suitable model systems that (1) dispose of the required complexity of social organization, (2) allow to observe and measure relevant traits and their fitness effects in the field, and (3) enable performance of crucial experiments to unravel underlying ultimate and proximate mechanisms of advanced sociality. Among vertebrates, there are a few model systems th...
