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 | |
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 | 1 | 4:00 | 4:00 | Report writing |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Interactive quizzes related to lecture material |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Formative tests through University VLE |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Feedback on practical write up |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | Theory of animal behaviour |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Summative write up of practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Preparation for summative quizzes |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Laboratory |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 1 | 7:00 | 7:00 | Study group tasks and interactive feedback |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 14 | 2:30 | 35:00 | Follow up directed reading and further reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
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.
Assessment Methods
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 | 100 | Summative Practical write-up |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | M | Pass/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 assessment | 1 | M | Formative 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.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2301's Timetable