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THE RULES OF LIFE
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Professor Aubrey Manning travels the globe to find The Rules of Life |
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This eight-part series explores the pressures that bear down on an animal from the moment of conception right through to death, as they strive to pass their genes on to the next generation.
Visit the Open University's
Rules of Life website
and find out how to
order a free CD >>>>
Programme 1 - Life Before Birth
The Rules of Life shape animals' lives even before birth. A mother's nutrition and stress levels affect her offspring's later life.
 Listen again to Programme 1 |
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Programme 2 - Early Days
If at first you don't succeed, you don't succeed. Only 50% of grey seal pups survive in their first year.
Listen again to Programme 2 |
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 Programme 3 - Going Independent
Leaving the safety of home can be a testing time, with many new skills to acquire. Young bull elephants spend years learning from older males before they can breed.
Listen again to Programme 3 |
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Programme 4 - Pairing Up
Attracting and choosing a mate can be a tricky and dangerous business. Red deer stags have to battle it out for access to females.
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Programme 5 - Happy Families
Parenting is often a challenge. Meerkats work together to feed and look after the next generation.
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 Programme 6 - Food Is Not For Free
For many animals there's a balance between getting enough food whilst not being eaten yourself. Spiny lobsters screech like a violin to scare off predators.
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Programme 7 - The Twilight Years
Ageing affects us all - for some species it brings dominance and respect, for others life becomes very tough.
Listen again to Programme 7 |
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 Programme 8 - Changing the Rules
Humans can influence animal behaviour in subtle ways. As people move into lion territory they drive away wildebeest and zebra. In Tanzania some lions have switched to hunting people instead.
Listen again to Programme 8 |
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RELATED LINKS |
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BBC Science & Nature
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