Module Descriptors
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
BIOL40661
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 4
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Paul Orsmond
Email: P.Orsmond@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 48
Independent Study Hours: 102
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- REPORT weighted at 100%
Module Details
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
This module will be assessed by a single element.
The assessment will be a 3000-word written report (100%) involving research into the behaviour of a named species, the construction of ethograms, practical behaviour observations and analysis of results obtained. LOs 1, 2, 3 and 4
The module will also involve a range of formative assessment techniques to assess learning and progress throughout the module including practical assessments, self, peer and tutor evaluation, targeted questioning and critical analysis of techniques and skills. You will be expected to submit ethograms for formative assessment purposes before completing your observation data.
The assessment will be a 3000-word written report (100%) involving research into the behaviour of a named species, the construction of ethograms, practical behaviour observations and analysis of results obtained. LOs 1, 2, 3 and 4
The module will also involve a range of formative assessment techniques to assess learning and progress throughout the module including practical assessments, self, peer and tutor evaluation, targeted questioning and critical analysis of techniques and skills. You will be expected to submit ethograms for formative assessment purposes before completing your observation data.
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Ethology: Early animal behaviourists (Tinbergen, Lorenz), ethological approaches, development of current animal behaviour theories.
Learning theories: (Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike), classical conditioning, operant learning, cognitive learning, development of behaviour, imprinting, innate behaviour.
Practical: Application of animal behaviour theories to practical situations to include; animal training, animal psychology, behaviourists, conservation and welfare.
Social behaviour and Group Living: Group defence and attack, group foraging and feeding, dilution effect, confusion effect, costs of group living, weighing up the costs and benefits, optimum group size.
Communication methods: Body language, visual displays, intraspecifc and interspecific communication, odour and oral displays.
Feeding and foraging behaviour: Predator prey relationships, defence behaviour, predator avoidance, optimality theory, prey choice.
Physiological control: Biological rhythms, homeostasis, senses (odour, sight, taste, smell, touch), additional animal senses (infrasound, echolocation).
Animal orientation both migratory and territorially: Local navigation, migration, methods of orientation (sun, stars, ocean currents, gravity, topography, odour).
Practical observation considerations: Approaches of studying animal behaviour, ethics and welfare issues, anthropomorphism, research design, recording methods.
Practical observation methods: Preliminary observations, describing behaviour, types of measure, sampling methods, reliability, validity, formulating hypotheses, hypothesis testing, correlations and use if suitable statistics.
Learning theories: (Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike), classical conditioning, operant learning, cognitive learning, development of behaviour, imprinting, innate behaviour.
Practical: Application of animal behaviour theories to practical situations to include; animal training, animal psychology, behaviourists, conservation and welfare.
Social behaviour and Group Living: Group defence and attack, group foraging and feeding, dilution effect, confusion effect, costs of group living, weighing up the costs and benefits, optimum group size.
Communication methods: Body language, visual displays, intraspecifc and interspecific communication, odour and oral displays.
Feeding and foraging behaviour: Predator prey relationships, defence behaviour, predator avoidance, optimality theory, prey choice.
Physiological control: Biological rhythms, homeostasis, senses (odour, sight, taste, smell, touch), additional animal senses (infrasound, echolocation).
Animal orientation both migratory and territorially: Local navigation, migration, methods of orientation (sun, stars, ocean currents, gravity, topography, odour).
Practical observation considerations: Approaches of studying animal behaviour, ethics and welfare issues, anthropomorphism, research design, recording methods.
Practical observation methods: Preliminary observations, describing behaviour, types of measure, sampling methods, reliability, validity, formulating hypotheses, hypothesis testing, correlations and use if suitable statistics.
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
NONE
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Group teaching rooms
Internet linked PCs
Learning resource centre
Laboratory access
Virtual Learning Environment (STEPs)
Animal Centre
Internet linked PCs
Learning resource centre
Laboratory access
Virtual Learning Environment (STEPs)
Animal Centre
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Allcock, J (2009) Animal Behaviour: An Evolutionary Approach. 9th Ed. Sinauer Associates
Dytham, C (2012) Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist¿s Guide. 3rd Ed. Wiley-Blackwell
Manning, A & Stamp Dawkins, M (2012) An Introduction to Animal Behaviour. 6th Ed. Oxford University Press
Dytham, C (2012) Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist¿s Guide. 3rd Ed. Wiley-Blackwell
Manning, A & Stamp Dawkins, M (2012) An Introduction to Animal Behaviour. 6th Ed. Oxford University Press
Learning Strategies
"This module will be delivered via classroom sessions that will deliver theory via a range of methods such as traditional lectures, group activities, guest speakers, individual tasks, questioning, role play, modelling, kinaesthetic activities, short research tasks to develop underpinning knowledge and understanding, tutorial and seminar sessions to promote and encourage discussion and debate of topical issues and on or off site visits to observe a range of animal behaviours.
On top of this it is expected that students will partake in independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions, extending classroom notes via extended reading and research, completion of behavioural observations and investigations, completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks and research, planning and production of the assignment.
Students will have access to an appropriate virtual learning environment (VLE) where they can access a range of sources to support their studies through this module.
"
On top of this it is expected that students will partake in independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions, extending classroom notes via extended reading and research, completion of behavioural observations and investigations, completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks and research, planning and production of the assignment.
Students will have access to an appropriate virtual learning environment (VLE) where they can access a range of sources to support their studies through this module.
"
Web Descriptor
On this module you will have the opportunity to cover a variety of topics and learning outcomes:
Ethology: Early animal behaviourists (Tinbergen, Lorenz), ethological approaches, development of current animal behaviour theories.
Learning theories: (Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike), classical conditioning, operant learning, cognitive learning, development of behaviour, imprinting, innate behaviour.
Practical: Application of animal behaviour theories to practical situations to include; animal training, animal psychology, behaviourists, conservation and welfare.
Social behaviour and Group Living: Group defence and attack, group foraging and feeding, dilution effect, confusion effect, costs of group living, weighing up the costs and benefits, optimum group size.
Communication methods: Body language, visual displays, intraspecifc and interspecific communication, odour and oral displays.
Feeding and foraging behaviour: Predator prey relationships, defence behaviour, predator avoidance, optimality theory, prey choice.
Physiological control: Biological rhythms, homeostasis, senses (odour, sight, taste, smell, touch), additional animal senses (infrasound, echolocation).
Animal orientation both migratory and territorially: Local navigation, migration, methods of orientation (sun, stars, ocean currents, gravity, topography, odour).
Practical observation considerations: Approaches of studying animal behaviour, ethics and welfare issues, anthropomorphism, research design, recording methods.
Practical observation methods: Preliminary observations, describing behaviour, types of measure, sampling methods, reliability, validity, formulating hypotheses, hypothesis testing, correlations and use if suitable statistics.
Ethology: Early animal behaviourists (Tinbergen, Lorenz), ethological approaches, development of current animal behaviour theories.
Learning theories: (Pavlov, Skinner, Thorndike), classical conditioning, operant learning, cognitive learning, development of behaviour, imprinting, innate behaviour.
Practical: Application of animal behaviour theories to practical situations to include; animal training, animal psychology, behaviourists, conservation and welfare.
Social behaviour and Group Living: Group defence and attack, group foraging and feeding, dilution effect, confusion effect, costs of group living, weighing up the costs and benefits, optimum group size.
Communication methods: Body language, visual displays, intraspecifc and interspecific communication, odour and oral displays.
Feeding and foraging behaviour: Predator prey relationships, defence behaviour, predator avoidance, optimality theory, prey choice.
Physiological control: Biological rhythms, homeostasis, senses (odour, sight, taste, smell, touch), additional animal senses (infrasound, echolocation).
Animal orientation both migratory and territorially: Local navigation, migration, methods of orientation (sun, stars, ocean currents, gravity, topography, odour).
Practical observation considerations: Approaches of studying animal behaviour, ethics and welfare issues, anthropomorphism, research design, recording methods.
Practical observation methods: Preliminary observations, describing behaviour, types of measure, sampling methods, reliability, validity, formulating hypotheses, hypothesis testing, correlations and use if suitable statistics.