A Web of Feathers and Scales: A Tangled Web of Mating, Parenthood and Mental health

Dive into the wonderfully weird world of freshwater eel. From the lifecycle to how they have shaped cultures and societies, we'll be covering a lot! This often overlooked and misrepresented species never fails to impress the curious.

Everyone is familiar with brightly colored male birds performing elaborate dances to attract mates or with female mammals fiercely protecting their young from predators. But did you know that arachnids can also be good lovers and devoted parents? Or that they have more cases of male, rather than female, parental care than any other group? In this talk, I will share insights from over 20 years of research on a fascinating harvestman from Brazil, revealing how sexual selection might explain the evolution of male caregiving. We will explore how females prefer paternal males, how male care is not as costly as initially thought, and how, to attract mates, males understand that advertising is the lifeblood of the business.

Or more importantly, are they happier than me? Come and find out the answer to the most important question that you have never thought to ask. We will consider what we can learn about happiness by comparing how we measure wellbeing in humans and animals. Quack quack!