Learning Outcomes:
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.
Indicative Module Content:
Course contents [lecturers: SC Simone Ciuti, VMP Virginia Morera-Pujol)
Lectures:
[SC] Lecture 1 – Introduction
[SC] L2 – Principles of Animal Behaviour
[SC] L3 – The evolution of behaviour
[SC] L4 – Hormones and neurobiology
[SC] L5 – Molecular genetics and development
[SC] L6 – Learning
[SC] L7 – Animal personality
[SC] L8 – Sexual segregation
[SC] L9,10,11 – Antipredator behaviour
[SC] L12 – Cultural transmission
[SC] L13 – Sexual Selection
[SC] L14 – Mating Systems
[SC] L15 – Kinship
[SC] L16 – Cooperation
[SC] L17 – Foraging
[SC] L18 – Communication
[VMP] L19 – Habitat selection, territoriality, and migration
[VMP] L20-21 – Animal Ecology, movement ecology.
[VMP] L22 – Navigation
[VMP] L23 – Migration
Computer-based labs
[SC] Lab1 – Animal Personality
[SC] Lab 2 – Experimental design
[SC] Lab 3 – Antipredator behaviour
[SC] Lab 4 – Sampling Animal Behaviour
[VMP] Lab 5 – Movement behaviour