Martin Surbeck

Martin Surbeck is interested in the mechanisms underlying the evolution of social organization. This includes questions concerning (1) reproductive strategies of individuals and their influence in shaping relationships within and between the sexes; (2) forms of cooperation within and across communities; and (3) ecological constraints. In his research, Martin combines behavioral, hormonal, genetic, environmental and experimental data, all from wild-living animals. His research is primarily based on our closest living relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees, to infer about potential selection pressures in our own evolutionary past.