Mike Gurven: UCSBPersonality traits (i.e. behavioral syndrome or disposition) have now been documented in a large number of species, and account for substantial behavioral variation among individuals. How heritable variation in personality is generated and maintained in populations, however, remains a puzzle to evolutionary biologists. Despite the industry of personality research in humans, relatively little […]

Bernard Chapais: University of MontrealThe social structure of any species is an emergent biological phenomenon and as such it has an evolutionary history. The human social structure is no exception to that rule but it has an important peculiarity: it is hidden from view by its numerous cultural expressions. To circumvent the problem and characterize […]

Laura Fortunato: SFICompared to other species, humans show a remarkable degree of variation in family organization. This talk presents recent advances in the application of evolutionary thinking to the study of the human family, focusing on the evolution of monogamous marriage. First, I present the results of a game-theoretic model investigating the co-evolution of marriage […]

Martin Muller: University of New MexicoThe Kanyawara chimpanzees of Kibale National Park have been studied for 25 years, during which researchers have acquired a unique, 14-year longitudinal sample of hormonal data. Dr. Muller will draw on these data to discuss the role that testosterone plays in supporting male mating effort, the energetic costs of male-male […]

Dawn Neill: Cal Poly SLOUrbanization is proceeding rapidly in many developing countries as part of a larger process of development and involves the shift of rural residents to urban cities. The shift from a rural to urban ecology entails changes in patterns of food production and/or purchase, preparation, and consumption. Existing research has consistently demonstrated […]