Evolution of animal behaviour -Dr Karim Vahed
Dr Karim Vahed, University Reader in Behavioural Ecology
Inspired by reading Dawkins' The Selfish Gene while he was an undergraduate student, Dr Karim Vahed is interested in all aspects of the evolution of animal behaviour.
He is also interested in the conservation of invertebrates and has conducted conservation fieldwork in the Bolivian Amazon, Malawi and the Derbyshire Peak District.
Karim is working with other experts on furthering research in animal behaviour. He's been in the international media spotlight for his work with experts in Switzerland investigating the mating habits of crickets, but argues that his findings in this field could easily be applied to different species.
In his own work, Karim highlights how, until just a decade ago, many evolution experts assumed a sexual harmony between the sexes when it comes to mating habits. But his work, especially related to the various strategies male crickets use to obtain matings, suggests there is often conflict between the sexes that contradicts the myth that harmony exists.
