On completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Understand how the phylogenetic history and the current environment influence the behavioural repertoire of a species;
2. Explain how internal processes (genetic inheritance, gene expression, hormonal changes and neurobiology) coupled with the environment (development, experience and learning) result in various behavioural phenomena;
3. Have a full understanding of the fact that, while the study of animal behaviour is important as a scientific field on its own, this science has made important contributions to other disciplines with applications to the study of human behaviour, to the neurosciences, to the environment and resource management, to the study of animal welfare and to the education of future generations of scientists;
4. Determine and use the correct behavioural recording technique to examine a variety of different behaviours;
5. Critically evaluate and synthesise information from the scientific literature on animal behaviour;
6. Work individually and as part of a small group to investigate (and collect empirical data about) various behavioural aspects of a species.

Course contents
Lecture 1 – Introduction
L2 – Principles of Animal Behaviour
L3 – The evolution of behaviour
L4 – Hormones and neurobiology
L5 – Molecular genetics and development
L6 – Learning
L7 – Animal personality
L8 – Sexual segregation
L9,10,11 – Antipredator behaviour
L12 – Cultural transmission
L13 – Sexual Selection
L14 – Mating Systems
L15 – Kinship
L16 – Cooperation
L17 – Foraging
L18 – Communication
L19 – Habitat selection, territoriality, and migration
L20-21 – Behaviour genetics and bacterial
L22 – Navigation
L23 – Migration

Lab1 – Animal Personality
Lab 2 – Experimental design
Lab 3 – Antipredator behaviour
Lab 4 – Sampling Animal Behaviour
Lab 5 – movement behaviour

Not applicable to this module.

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

The labs' assignments will be reviewed within 1-2 weeks from their submission, and students will receive individual feedback on Brightspace to make sure they can understand their mistakes and be better prepared for the following assignment. Furthermore, overall feedback will be provided in class. The final exam will be an MCQ and students will have access to the correct answers a few days after the final exam.