ANIMAL BEHAVIORS

MBGE429

Course Type

Elective Course

Course Level

Bachelor's Degree

Year of Study

Semester

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Learn different approaches in animal behavior studies.
Classify animal behaviors into wide range of different categories.
Understand the differences between species in used behavioral strategies.
Understand the difference between ultimate and proximate causes of different behaviors.
Learn the cost-benefit analysis of optimal behaviors and discuss their contribution to direct or indirect conformity.
Learn the role of species memory, individual experience and learning in shaping behavior.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

Course Description

The Animal Behavior course provides information about the emergence of behavior and why and how animals behave.

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Short history of behavioral sciences
2^nd Week	Different approaches to behavioral studies: ethology and behavioral ecology as an ultimate approach and behaviorism as a proximate approach
3^rd Week	Factors controlling animal behavior: stimuli, responses and channels of signaling
4^th Week	Communication and animal cognition: body language (bees and monkeys), language of bird song
5^th Week	Biorhythms
6^th Week	Habitat selection: animals creating their own habitat, nesting
7^th Week	Sharing habitat, interspecies relations: commensalism, mutualism, parasitism
8^th Week	Diet selection, feeding habits and food acquisition strategies
9^th Week	Defenses against predators, spatial orientation and navigation: homing and migration
10^th Week	Reproduction: the evolution of sex and the sexes
11^th Week	Sexual selection: mating systems, polygamy versus monogamy, costs and benefits, parental care, direct and indirect fitness
12^th Week	Sociality in animals: group living and evolution of cooperation
13^th Week	Agonistic behaviors: altruism and aggression
14^th Week	Development of behavior: maturation and learning

Recommended or Required Reading

Drickamer LC, Vessey SH, Meikle D: Animal behaviour: mechanisms, ecology and evolution.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	35
Assignment	1	10
Attendance	1	5
Total(%)		50
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		50
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		50
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	2	2
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work
Preparation for Final exam	1	38	38
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	28	28
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam	1	2	2
Homework	1	10	10
Total Work Load			122
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			4.06
ECTS Credit of the Course			4