This field has however, expanded and more generally examines quantitatively the selective advantage of a whole range of aspects of the life history of animals.
Behavioural ecology is a dynamic field, at the interface of ecology and evolutionary biology.
Research focuses on understanding the current adaptive value of behaviours to individuals, which allows us to investigate how those behaviours evolve. Investigations can involve the study of foraging behaviour, food preferences, mating behaviour, mate preferences, conflict between members of the same or different species, territoriality, cooperation and migration. Much of the ecological research within the department has a behavioural ecological aspect. Access to the diversity of tropical faunas and tropical habitats provide unrivalled opportunities to conduct detailed studies of the processes underlying the life histories and ecologies of these organisms. Most of our specialist teaching in Behavioural Ecology is performed in the third year courses in Population Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, and Behaviour, although some exposure to these ideas is provided in the early undergraduate courses.