Part 5: Animal behaviour, altruism and sexual selection

This part uses game theory to explore how selection shapes behavioural strategies such as aggression and restraint. Sexual selection and mating systems are covered in the lectures and the reading; there is no practical for them.

By the end of Part 5, you should be able to:

• Explain how payoffs influence behavioural strategies.
• Use game-theoretic reasoning to interpret conflicts and cooperation.
• Connect behavioural models to evolutionary outcomes.

Reading: Neal, chapters Animal Behaviour, Altruism and Limiting Aggression and Sexual Selection and Mating Systems.