Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The first part of this module focuses on animal behaviour and 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. A laboratory practical and associated computer practical enables the students to design, conduct, analyse, and interpret scientific experiments using lab-based assays of animal behaviour.

The second part of this module provides a general introduction to behavioural ecology from an evolutionary perspective. Lectures focus on key theories that help us understand why different behaviours have evolved in different environmental contexts and introduces some applications.

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

Methods for studying animal behaviour, including data analysis and scientific hypothesis testing

Major themes in evolutionary behavioural ecology that may include sexual selection, game theory, developmental plasticity, social evolution, foraging, predator-prey interaction, human influence

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

PC1 Knowledge Application: Interpret detailed biological evidence and concepts and apply this knowledge to critically evaluate key issues in the discipline including its applied concepts.

PC1 will be developed and assessed so that students will be able to:

Interpret and apply evolutionary theory to explain behavioural traits across taxa, including sexual selection, social evolution and developmental plasticity.

Critically evaluate the role of behaviour in evolutionary processes, including how proximate and ultimate explanations contribute to our understanding of behavioural ecology.

Apply concepts of phenotypic evolution and heritability to assess behavioural adaptations and evolutionary responses to environmental change.

Analyse the evolutionary significance of inherited vs. learned behaviours, and how these contribute to species survival and adaptation.

Evaluate the application of evolutionary behavioural ecology to real-world issues such as conservation, domestication, and evolutionary rescue.

Interpret detailed biological evidence from ethograms and behavioural studies to assess evolutionary hypotheses.

Intended Skill Outcomes

PC2 Information Literacy: Critically analyse and evaluate scientific literature to provide an answer to a question with an uncertain answer. PC2 will be introduced, developed and assessed so that students will be able to:
-Critically analyse primary literature in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour to address open-ended questions.
-Evaluate competing hypotheses using evidence from behavioural experiments and evolutionary models.
-Synthesise information from diverse sources to construct coherent arguments about evolutionary and behavioural phenomena.

PC3 Practical Skills: Assume some level of responsibility for experimental design in a moderately structured setting using appropriate scientific methods to collect data. PC3 will be introduced, developed and assessed so that students will be able to:
-Design and conduct behavioural experiments (e.g., stick insect ethograms) using appropriate scientific methods.
-Collect, analyse, and interpret behavioural data in a moderately structured setting, demonstrating responsibility for experimental design.

PC5 Communication: Comprehend and adopt appropriate academic language and conventions in order to communicate more complex scientific concepts clearly, concisely and correctly. PC5 will be introduced, developed and assessed so that students are able to:
-Write full scientific reports (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) using appropriate academic conventions.
-Communicate complex concepts in evolutionary behavioural ecology clearly and concisely in written and oral formats.
-Engage in discussions using discipline-specific terminology to explain behavioural and evolutionary mechanisms.

PC7 Ethics Literacy: Assume some level of responsibility for compliance with relevant ethical concepts that apply to more detailed scientific knowledge and your own work with guidance as relevant to the discipline of study, in a moderately structured environment. PC7 will be developed so that students will be able to:
-Demonstrate awareness of ethical considerations in behavioural research, including animal welfare and data integrity.
-Apply ethical principles in the design and reporting of behavioural experiments with guidance.

PC8 Collaboration: Apply professional and digital collaboration skills in various settings to advance shared endeavours. Implement principles of effective teamwork, acknowledging both personal contributions and the significance of others within the team. PC8 will be developed so that students will be able to:
-Work effectively in teams during practicals and discussions, acknowledging individual and group contributions.
-Use digital tools to collaborate on shared tasks such as data analysis and literature reviews.
-Engage in peer discussions to explore diverse perspectives on behavioural and evolutionary topics.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide fundamental knowledge and understanding of animal behaviour and evolutionary behavioural ecology and a broad awareness of its applications to society. Some of the fundamental concepts are reinforced by practical exercises and formative canvas quizzes, including a mock exam on canvas. The skills to collect, analyse and present animal behaviour data are developed via a laboratory practical and guided independent study for the report write up, providing a summative assessment for subject-specific and transferable skills development.

Directed research, using supplementary online material and activities, and wider reading of the scientific literature will support the information received through lectures. Independent study will be guided using these materials and online access to key texts/eBooks. Students will be encouraged to become more independent in their learning at this stage in their programmes to develop key skills such as Active Learning, Goal Setting and Action Planning, Decision Making, and Initiative.

Assessment preparation and completion will allow students to fully prepare for both their formative and summative coursework assessments. They will have the opportunity to consolidate and build upon knowledge gained in the lecture sessions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Lectures and practical materials together with the directed reading provide questions for formal assessment in the form of a digital examination that is based on the knowledge acquired during these activities. The digital examination assessment will focus on testing depth and breadth of factual knowledge and general understanding of the concepts and implications in each subject area. The exam comprises short-answer questions to test understanding across the subjects, as well as a multiple-choice questions. A mock exam and classroom/canvas quizzes will be provided as formative assessment for the students to test their knowledge.

The summative write-up assessment on animal behaviour comprises a laboratory practical and written report on an experiment on animal behaviour includes elements of experimental design, data acquisition and analysis. This assessment is designed to assess the ability to understand and test and interpret hypotheses on animal behaviour.

The Inspera digital exam will assess the level of breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the module, including incorporation of additional online resources and student wider reading. The exam is set in the assessment period.

Study Abroad students should contact the school to discuss alternative assessment arrangements for the Inspera exam.

General Notes

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