BIO2013 : Animal Behaviour
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Professor Lucy Asher
- Lecturer: Dr Catherine Douglas
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
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
Teaching Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 16 | 1:00 | 16:00 | Fourteen sets of online lecture material broken up by quizes, questions and interactive content |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Report writing |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Write up of laboratory practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Summative MCQs |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Formative MCQs |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 14 | 2:30 | 35:00 | Scientific papers and Text book reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Animal Behaviour practical of stick insect behaviour in labs |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Quizes, questions and interactive content related to lecture material |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Study group activities and feedback |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Information for students will be provided by online lecture material 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.
Assessment Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 60 | Summative Practical write-up |
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 40 | Online MCQ/short summative answer quiz after formative practice quizzes |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | Formative tests |
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | Formative practical write up |
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.
"The practical write-up will develop and assess the skills needed to design, analyse, and interpret a simple study of behaviour. The formative and summative quizzes throughout the course help students assimilate and test their ability to apply taught material.
[No need for Study Abroad option]"
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BIO2013's Timetable