Research Grant
[Cite as http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP150102900]Researchers: David Chapple (Chief Investigator) , Geoffrey While (Chief Investigator) , Michael Gardner (Chief Investigator) , Asst Prof Charlie Cornwallis (Partner Investigator) , Dr Tobias Uller (Partner Investigator)
Brief description Female multiple mating and the evolutionary origins of complex societies. This project plans to connect micro-evolutionary processes with macro-evolutionary change to provide a unified understanding of why animals live together. Evolutionary transitions to and from complex social behaviour appear linked to female multiple mating (polyandry). However, the causal pathway by which variation in polyandry results in the emergence and diversification of sociality is yet to be established. Using a vertebrate system we aim to integrate empirical, theoretical and comparative approaches to show: the ecological causes of individual variation in female polyandry; its effect on social behaviours that promote social complexity at the population level; and how this corresponds to divergence in social complexity across species.
Funding Amount $334,200
Funding Scheme Discovery Projects
- ARC : DP150102900
- PURL : http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP150102900
