BB809: Behavioural Biology
Comment
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Course introduction
The course gives an academic basis for the course BB835 and for a thesis or another activity involving studying the topics in behavioural biology and neuroscience.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
- Give the competence to read original research literature covering behavioural biology
- Give skills to make unbiased observations and quantification of animal behaviour.
- Give knowledge and understanding of basic terminology and state of the art methodologies in behavioural biology.
Expected learning outcome
- structure the presented overview on behavioural biology
- argue on the basis of the acquired knowledge about behavioural biology
- relate examples presented to basic concepts of behavioural biology
- analyze a new problem presented in a journal article on a behavioural biological subject
- classify exemplary methods according to the approaches presented in a behavioural biological study
- use systematic methods to quantify animal behaviour
Content
- History of Behavioural Biology and modern approaches
- Sensory systems and cognitive mechanisms
- Learning and animal culture
- Orientation and habitat selection
- Foraging and antipredator behaviour
- Communication and aggression
- Mating systems and kinship
- Social behaviour and human behaviour
- The students are presented with the practical use of behavioural biology through field assignments and an excursion that will give insights into ongoing scientific projects in a zoo.
Literature
Examination regulations
Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)
Timing
Tests
Active participation
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a).
Exam element a)
Timing
Prerequisites
Type | Prerequisite name | Prerequisite course |
---|---|---|
Examination part | Prerequisites for participating in the exam a) | N110008101, BB809: Behavioural Biology |
Tests
Portfolio
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
- written assignment on animal behaviour
- e-tests
- oral presentation of seminar
In the literature seminars each student must choose a recent journal article on a Behavioural Biology topic. She/he is asked to prepare a short presentation and discussion of the work, which is presented and discussed in plenum. Two students are pre-assigned to be discussion opponents and have to prepare critical questions to the presenters.
Overall assessment., external marking and grades by the Danish 7-mark scale. (5 ECTS). (04015002).
Reexam in the same exam period or immediately thereafter. The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
- Reading scientific article
- Critical reflection / commentary
- Preparation for plenum presentation