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ZOOL20020

Academic Year 2025/2026

Animal Behaviour (ZOOL20020)

Subject:
Zoology
College:
Science
School:
Biology & Environment Science
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor 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.

About this Module

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:

Actual Date Day Start Time Length Room & Capacity Content Delivered by
16-Sep-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L1 Introduction Simone Ciuti
18-Sep-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L2 Principles of Anim Behav Simone Ciuti
23-Sep-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L3 Evolution of Behaviour Simone Ciuti
25-Sep-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L4 Hormones and neurobiology Simone Ciuti
30-Sep-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L5 Molecular Genetics and Development Simone Ciuti
02-Oct-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L6 Learning Simone Ciuti
07-Oct-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L7 Animal Personality Simone Ciuti
09-Oct-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L8 Sexual segregation Simone Ciuti
13-Oct-25 Mon 10:00 110mins F20-NEWST (56) LAB1 - animal personality Simone Ciuti
14-Oct-25 Tue 10:00 110mins G-30PCLab (40) LAB1 - animal personality Simone Ciuti
14-Oct-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L9 Antipredator Behaviour Simone Ciuti
16-Oct-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L10 Antipredator Behaviour Simone Ciuti
20-Oct-25 Mon 10:00 110mins F20-NEWST (56) LAB2 - Experimental design Simone Ciuti
21-Oct-25 Tue 10:00 110mins G-30PCLab (40) LAB2 - Experimental design Simone Ciuti
21-Oct-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L11 Antipredator behaviour Simone Ciuti
23-Oct-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L12 Cultural trasmission Simone Ciuti
27-Oct-25 Mon 10:00 110mins G6-DAE (40) LAB3 - Vigilance behaviour Simone Ciuti (RECORDED ONLINE - HOLIDAY)
28-Oct-25 Tue 10:00 110mins G-30PCLab (40) LAB3 - Vigilance behaviour Simone Ciuti
28-Oct-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L13 Sexual Selection Simone Ciuti
30-Oct-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L14 Mating Systems Simone Ciuti
04-Nov-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L15 Kinship Simone Ciuti
06-Nov-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L16 Cooperation Simone Ciuti
11-Nov-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L17 foraging Simone Ciuti
13-Nov-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L18 communication Simone Ciuti
17-Nov-25 Mon 10:00 110mins H2.40-SCH (50) LAB4 - sampling animal behaviour Simone Ciuti
18-Nov-25 Tue 10:00 110mins G-30PCLab (40) LAB4 - sampling animal behaviour Simone Ciuti
18-Nov-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L19 movement ecology Kilian Murphy
20-Nov-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L20 movement ecology Kilian Murphy
24-Nov-25 Mon 10:00 110mins F20-NEWST (56) LAB5 - movement ecology Kilian Murphy
25-Nov-25 Tue 10:00 110mins G-30PCLab (40) LAB5 - movement ecology Kilian Murphy
25-Nov-25 Tue 14:00 50mins C007-HEA (110) L21 movement ecology Kilian Murphy
27-Nov-25 Thu 14:00 50mins G-24.AG (105) L22 Movement ecology Kilian Murphy

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Practical

12
Autonomous Student Learning

89
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 Kilian Murphy 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: Weeks 2-12 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: Weeks 2-12 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 Tues 10:00 - 11:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 5 Week(s) - 11 Mon 10:00 - 11:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 5 Week(s) - 6, 7, 12 Mon 10:00 - 11:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 5 Week(s) - 8 Mon 10:00 - 11:50
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