BIO2013 : Animal Behaviour
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr 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
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Formative tests through University VLE |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Formative feedback on practical write up |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | Formative write up of practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 22:00 | 22:00 | Revision for examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 14 | 0:30 | 7:00 | Lecture preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Revision session |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Laboratory and video clips |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Laboratory and video clips |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 14 | 2:00 | 28:00 | Follow up directed reading and further reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Information for students will be provided by lectures with additional directed reading and by practicals. The lectures will provide students with a framework for theoretical interpretation of animal behaviour with examples, from both a physiological and an evolutionary perspective. The practicals 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
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 100 | N/A |
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
The final written examination will assess the knowledge and ability to understand and relate the main concepts covered in the course. Completing the practical write-up will develop the skills needed to design, analyse, and interpret a simple study of behaviour. The MCQ style questions are to help students assimilate taught material.
Study Abroad students may request to take their exam before the semester 1 exam period. Study Abroad students should contact the school if they would like an early exam.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- BIO2013's Timetable