BIO3052

Animal behaviour

(SCI)

Associate Professor Alan Lill

6 points + Second semester + Clayton + Two 1-hour lectures and 3 hours laboratory work per week + Prerequisite: 12 points from level 2 BOT/ZOO/BIO + Prohibition: ZOO3022

Synopsis: This subject examines how genetic and environmental effects (physical and social) underlie behavioural variation in animals and how the evolution and development of such variation can be studied. It examines how the foraging, predatory, reproductive and social behaviour of animals promotes their survival and gene replication in the environments in which they have evolved. Animal communication is discussed in terms of the mechanisms used, the optimisation of information transfer and the evolution of signalling strategies.

Assessment: Examination (2.5 hours): 50% + Project Report: 35% + Group project plan and talk: 15%