BB546: Behavioural Biology

The Study Board for Science

Teaching language: English
EKA: N100024112, N100024102
Assessment: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: Internal
Grading: Pass/Fail, 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N100024101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 04-04-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Approved - active

Comment

This BA course can exceptionally be chosen by graduate students who have not taken the course on their bachelor's degree.

Entry requirements

Students who have previously attended and passed BB809 can not follow this course BB546.

Academic preconditions

The curriculum from a bachelor in biology, psychology, engineering or similar must be known.

Course introduction

The aim of this course is to give students heading for a Master’s degree in Biology and an introduction into and a broad overview on Behavioural Biology. Students interested in the field are given the chance to gain insights into major breakthroughs in Behavioural Biology, training in relating to currently debated topics, and an orientation about interesting questions for future projects.

The course gives an academic basis for studying the topics in behavioural biology and neuroscience.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:
  • 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

The course covers a wide variety of topics in Behavioural Biology.
The lecture topics are:
  • 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

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)

Timing

Autumn

Tests

Active participation

EKA

N100024112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course 

ECTS value

0

Additional information

Active participation in field trip.
The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a).

Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn

Tests

Portfolio

EKA

N100024102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course 

ECTS value

5

Additional information

Portfolio with:

  • written assignment on animal behaviour
  • 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.

Indicative number of lessons

36 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 36 hours

Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium: 30 hours
Common lessons in the field/excursion: 6 hours

The course takes place at SDUand contains lectures and 4 observation assignments, including animal behavior observations to Odense ZOO. These assignments will be presented in written reports.

Other planned teaching activities: 
  • Reading scientific article
  • Critical reflection / commentary
  • Preparation for plenum presentation

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Coen Elemans coen@biology.sdu.dk Biologisk Institut

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Biologisk Institut

Team at Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile Education Semester Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.