Module Catalogue 2024/25

NES2301 : Animal Behaviour

NES2301 : Animal Behaviour

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Lucy Asher
  • Lecturer: Dr Catherine Douglas, Dr Theresa Rueger
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The study of animal behaviour is a large discipline encompassing both the mechanisms and evolutionary functions of the ways that animals interact with their environment and with each other. This module provides the student with a comprehensive introduction to the scientific approach to studying, quantifying, and interpreting animal behaviour. Lectures focus on examples from the literature which illustrate important principles of animal behaviour taking both a mechanistic and a behavioural ecology approach. Practicals enable the students to design, conduct, analyse, and interpret scientific experiments using lab-based assays of animal behaviour.

Outline Of Syllabus

The topics covered in this module include:

* Introduction to the study of animal behaviour
* Evolutionary and immediate causes of behaviour including neural and physiological mechanisms of behaviour
* Major themes in animal behaviour which may include sexual selection, mating systems, parental care, foraging,
predator-prey interaction, group living, human influence
* Methods for studying animal behaviour, including data analysis and scientific hypothesis testing

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To be aware of the historical background to the field of animal behaviour
To be able to distinguish between proximate and ultimate levels of explanation in animal behaviour.
To be able to distinguish and summarise differences between inherited and learned forms of behaviour.
To be able to evaluate and summarise complex issues involved in the study of animal behaviour.

Intended Skill Outcomes

To have acquired the skills needed to design, analyse, and interpret a simple study of behaviour using modern methods employed in scientific studies of behaviour.
To increase skill in scientific hypothesis testing

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion31:003:00Formative tests through University VLE
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture12:002:00Feedback on practical write up
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture141:0014:00Theory of animal behaviour
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion112:0012:00Summative write up of practical
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion32:006:00Preparation for summative quizzes
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion14:004:00Report writing
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion141:0014:00Interactive quizzes related to lecture material
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical13:003:00Laboratory
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching17:007:00Study group tasks and interactive feedback
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study142:3035:00Follow up directed reading and further reading
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Information for students will be provided by a mixture of online and in person lectures with additional quizzes, supported study group sessions, directed reading and by practicals. The online lecture material will provide students with a framework for theoretical interpretation of animal behaviour with examples, from both a physiological and an evolutionary perspective. The practical will provide students with knowledge of techniques to measure animal behaviour and experience of experimental design, recording analysis, and reporting of animal behaviour.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Practical/lab report1M100Summative Practical write-up
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
Description When Set Comment
Computer assessmentMPass/Fail Online MCQ (pass mark 40%)
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment1MFormative weekly quizzes
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Completing the practical write-up will develop the skills needed to design, analyse, and interpret a simple study of behaviour. The formative and summative questions through-out the course are to help students assimilate and test ability to apply taught material.
Study Abroad students may request to take their assessment early if necessary and should contact the school if they would like to explore this option.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.