Behavioural Biology

COURSE OBJECTIVE
The course will provide an introduction and overview of behavioural biology. We will span the range of the animal kingdom and approach important behaviours from evolutionary, developmental, functional and mechanistic angles. We will cover a wide range of topics from evolution of behaviour to consciousness in animals and aspects of human emotional dysfunction. These topics will deal with aspects of genes (nature) and environment (nurture) and their interaction in shaping the behaviour of animals. This includes aspects of the involvement of specific brain areas in particular behavioural domains.

Final attainment levels:

• Distinguish proximate from ultimate questions.
• Objectively analyse behavioural observations.
• Distinguish the functional domains that are elemental to understand behavioural biology.
• Explain how genes (nature) and environment (nurture), and their interaction, shape the behaviour of animals.
• Interpret and explain behavioural research at different biological levels (evolutionary, developmental, functional and mechanistic).
• Interpret behavioural data related to both fundamental and applied research questions.

COURSE CONTENT
In Behavioural Biology we study the "Why?" and "How?" of different behaviours of animals in their environment. We will cover the main subdisciplines as well as important functional domains that are elemental to understand behavioural biology. Topics that we will address are:

• Principles of Animals Behaviour: Tinbergen’s Four Questions
• Evolution of Behaviour
• Proximate Factors I: Neurobiology and Hormones
• Proximate Factors II: Development and Molecular Genetics
• Learning and Memory
• Cultural Transmission
• Sexual Selection
• Mating Systems
• Kinship
• Cooperation, Social Behaviour and Aggression
• Foraging and Antipredator Behaviour
• Habitat Selection, Territoriality, and Migration
• Communication
• Learning and Memory
• Episodic Memory, Consciousness and Personalities
• Emotion and Stress
• Aging and Disease

TEACHING METHODS
Lectures by the course coordinators and guest lecturers (t.b.d.)
Computer/web exercises  to analyse movie clips of animal behaviour
Essay writing Self studies with preparation (of questions) for lectures

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
Written examination with open-ended questions (80%) Essay (10%) WebExercises (10%)

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
None

RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Neurobiology, Plant & Animal Physiology 

TARGET AUDIENCE
3rd year Bachelor students in Biology and Minor Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.