NES2309 : Evolution & Behaviour
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Dr Isabel Smallegange
- Lecturer: Dr James Guest, Professor Lucy Asher, 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 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
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
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Exam completion (summative) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 0:00 | 10:00 | Exam revision (calculated as 0.5h per hour of lecture time) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Canvas quizzes and mock exam (formative) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Report writing laboratory practical (summative) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Laboratory practical insect behaviour (summative) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Computer practical (formative) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Drop in for Q&A on Zoom |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Routine lecture follow up (calculated as 1 h per hour of lecture time) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 73:00 | 73:00 | Study of lectures, RECAP, Canvas reading, etc. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Preparation for practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Preparation for practical |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 180 | 2 | A | 70 | Inspera Digital Exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 30 | Summative practical write-up on the animal behaviour laboratory practical (approx. 1500 words) |
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 assessment | 2 | M | Computer practical to support analysis of laboratory practical on animal behaviour |
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Quizzes on canvas, including a mock exam with example exam questions. |
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.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2309's Timetable