Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
BB20173: Behaviour & ecology |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Intermediate |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW 15%, EX 60%, PR 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take BB10012 |
| Description:
| Aims: To expose students to the fundamental principles of behavioural ecology. To examine the integration of behaviour, ecology and evolution. Learning Outcomes: After taking the course the student should be able to: * Employ economic models to understand behaviour in appropriate contexts. * Describe genetic pathways underlying behaviour. * Explain how mating system and reproductive strategy influences behavioural evolution. * Partition sources of variation between genes, environment and conspecifics using quantitative genetic models of indirect genetic effects. * Quantify the fitness consequences of behaviour for individuals and populations. * Explain the role of predator/prey interactions and population dynamics in the expression of behaviour. * State what altruism and selfishness are and how to measure them in natural populations. Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F. Content: Behaviours are usually classified without consideration for the context in which they are expressed. But can we understand behaviours without considering the ecological conditions which stimulate their expression? This course will explore the relationship between behaviour and ecology. It will present the logic of behavioural decisions and the ecological and genetic contexts on which behavioural decisions depend. There are three general topics: behavioural genetics, behavioural ecology, and the interplay between individual behaviour and populations. Each topic will highlight the importance of manipulative studies to our understanding of the integration of behaviour and ecology. |