ONLINE: Predatory behavior is fascinating. Documentaries build entire stories around the hunt and kill. Museums put sharp-toothed skulls at the center of exhibits. Humans have elaborate rituals around hunting and eating meat. But why does it happen? In a world where most plants make their own food and many animals eat plants, why be a carnivore? We will take carnivory back to its single-celled source, then travel through time as lineages adapt to a changing world and changing prey. We will discuss the challenges facing the first jawed fishes and the challenges facing Tyrannosaurus rex as she feeds her chicks. Focusing on the top of the food chain through time, we will explore the history of life — and the history of our ancestors — through this violent but fascinating lens. We will end by contemplating the future of meat-eating for our species and the planet. | Lecture + Q&A.
Max enrollment: 200.
Class sessions are recorded.
