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Lecturer(s)
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Šobotník Jan, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
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Straka Jakub, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Klimeš Petr, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Content of lectures: What (eu)sociality means, its origin and evolution. Eusociality in aphids and thrips. Termites: Evolution, taxonomy and phylogeny. Ontogeny and polymorphism. Colony development. Nutritional ecology. Symbiotic organisms. Synantropic species. Chemical ecology and sensory physiology. Division of labour, polyethism. Defence of societies. Social parasites. Hymenoptera: The origin and evolution of (eu)sociality. Structure of colonies. Kin selection, altruism, haplodiploid sex theory. Parental manipulation. Earlier stages of sociality, reduction of social behaviour. Sex ration theory in Hymenoptera and the reality. Sex manipulation. Evolution of monogynous and polygynous colonies. Ants: Life and development of individual and colony. Systematic and evolution. Role and evolution of castes. Social relations within colony. Ethology and behavioural ecology. Social recognition and social parasitism. Navigation, self-organisation. Role of food within colony. Symbiosis, host-parasitic and predatory relationships. Mimesis. Ant role in ecosystem. Biogeography. Wasps: Systematics and origin of sociality. Colony development and social organization. Division of labour, behaviour, communication and nourishment sources. Recognition of relatives and social parasitism. Economic significance. Bees: Systematics and social evolution. Colony development. Division of labour. Communication, navigation, chemical and optical orientation and sensory physiology. Foraging strategy. Aggressiveness, social parasitism, nest parasitism and defense. Utilization of bees.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming)
- Class attendance
- 24 hours per semester
- Preparation for exam
- 40 hours per semester
- Preparation for classes
- 20 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The course provides survey of the basic phenomena related to organization of insect societies; particularly: evolution of eusocial taxa, origination of social behaviour, ontogeny, communication, ecological and economical importance of social insects etc. The lecture includes total survey of the most important aspects of life of social insects and place them into the evolutionary and functional context.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
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Recommended literature
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Abe T., Bignell D. E. & Higashi M. 2000: Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Cluwer Academic Publisher, Boston..
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Bourke, A.F.G., and Franks, N.R. 1995: Social Evolution in Ants (Princeton: Princeton University Press)..
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Costa, James T., 2006. The other insect societies, Cambridge, Mass. : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2006..
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Hermann H. R. 1979, 1981, 1982: Social Insects, vol. 1, 2, 3. Academic Press, New York..
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Hölldobler, B. and Wilson, E. O. 1990. The Ants. Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press..
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Choe, J. C. and Crespi, B. J. 1997. Evolution of Social Behavior in Insects and Arachnids. Cambridge Univ. Press..
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Michener, C. D. 1974. The Social Behavior of the Bees. Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press..
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