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ZOOL20020

Academic Year 2024/2025

Animal Behaviour (ZOOL20020)

Subject:
Zoology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Simone Ciuti
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Do you want to comprehend how and why animals behave the way they do? Do you want to learn how we can carry out lab and field research and test hypotheses about behaviour using the scientific method? This class will give you a comprehensive overview on the complexities of animal behaviour, and will allow you to appreciate the techniques used to record animal behaviour both in the lab and in the field.
Using examples drawn from all animal life (invertebrates to humans), this course will provide students with an overall review of the fundamentals of animal behaviour. Following a detailed introduction into proximate and ultimate causation of behaviour, the course will cover key behavioural phenomena: sexual reproduction, selection and mating systems, kinship and cooperative breeding, habitat selection, movement, migration, and territoriality, aggression and game theory, group living and anti-predator behaviour including vigilance and foraging behaviour, and animal personalities. The practical element of the course will allow students to develop the skills necessary to measure behaviour in addition to allowing an exploration of some aspects of behaviour through experimentation.

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

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

89

Lectures

24

Practical

12

Total

125


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This class is a perfect balance between theory, practice, and hands-on experience.
The lecturer will drive the students through the complexity of animal behaviour, delivering lectures able to explain the key concepts but also showing a plethora of examples (videos, pictures, examples across the animal kingdom).
Computer-based labs will allow students to learn key techniques needed to collect behavioural data in the field. Among the others, students will revise videos and will learn how to interpret animal behaviour.
The lecturers will provide continuous feedback on the labs, the assignments, and there will be more than a chance to prepare for the final exam (i.e., in class mock exam with the lecturer).

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Lab write-ups. Students will attend computer-based labs and they will be required to submit an assignment (e.g., essay, infographic) within one week after the lab. Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 11, Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No
Exam (In-person): Final exam - 2 hrs - 50 MCQs End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

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

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

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.

Suggested textbook
Lee Alan Dugatkin (either 3rd or 4th edition)
Principles of Animal Behaviour

Additional readings
Relevant scientific literature will be suggested at the end of each lecture.

Name Role
Dr Virginia Morera-Pujol Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 Tues 10:00 - 11:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 5 Week(s) - 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 Mon 10:00 - 11:50