Module Descriptors
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
BIOL60483
Key Facts
School of Health, Science and Wellbeing
Level 6
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Paul Mitchell
Email: P.Mitchell@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 126
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 70%
- COURSEWORK -ESSAY weighted at 30%
Module Details
Module Texts
Alcock, J. 1998. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach. Sinauer Associates, Cambridge MA.
McFarland, D. 1999. Animal Behaviour: Psychobiology, Ethology and Evolution. Longman, Harlo
Goodenough, J. 2001. Perspectives on Animal Behavior. John Wiley & Sons, New York
Gosling, L.M. & Sutherland, W.J. (Eds) 2000. Behaviour and Conservation. CUP, Cambridge
McFarland, D. 1999. Animal Behaviour: Psychobiology, Ethology and Evolution. Longman, Harlo
Goodenough, J. 2001. Perspectives on Animal Behavior. John Wiley & Sons, New York
Gosling, L.M. & Sutherland, W.J. (Eds) 2000. Behaviour and Conservation. CUP, Cambridge
Module Indicative Content
This module will cover a wide range of topics relating to how animals behave; including its genetic, neurological, physiological, evolutionary and ecological bases. It will also consider the various methods used in the study of animal behaviour. Other topics include:
Neuroethology: Learning and memory, imprinting, conditioning, reasoning
Social organisation: caste systems, mating systems, aggression and dominance, altruism,
Sexual behaviour and parental care.
Foraging and predator/anti-predator behaviour
The module finishes with students researching some applied aspects of animal behaviour, such as enclosure design and environmental enrichment of captive animals, the role of behaviour in conservation and pest control.
Neuroethology: Learning and memory, imprinting, conditioning, reasoning
Social organisation: caste systems, mating systems, aggression and dominance, altruism,
Sexual behaviour and parental care.
Foraging and predator/anti-predator behaviour
The module finishes with students researching some applied aspects of animal behaviour, such as enclosure design and environmental enrichment of captive animals, the role of behaviour in conservation and pest control.
Module Learning Strategies
12 2-hour lectures will be used to introduce the various topics covered. Lecture material will be reinforced by a series of student-centred tasks involving various texts, reviews and material available electronically.
Module Additional Assessment Details
Students will be required to complete 1 piece of summative assessment.
70% 2-hour exam, Students answer 2 questions from 4 (1, 2)
30% 2000-word essay (3)
70% 2-hour exam, Students answer 2 questions from 4 (1, 2)
30% 2000-word essay (3)
Module Resources
Access to PCs. Appropriate animal behaviour videos