BIO3052

Animal behaviour

Associate Professor Alan Lill

6 points
* Second semester
* Clayton
* Two 1-hour lectures and 3 hours laboratory work per week
* Prerequisite: 16 points [BSc(Env) 12 points] from level 2 BOT/ZOO/BIO
* Prohibition: ZOO3022

Objectives Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of particular aspects of behavioural ecology - the way that animals behaviourally interact with their environment and the survival value of such behaviour regarding foraging, defence, and evolution of mating systems. A particular aim of the subject is for students to understand social organisation and its implication, as well as gaining knowledge concerning the neural mechanisms underlying behaviour and their development. Students will gain an understanding of the design of experiments and various techniques used to observe animal behaviour in both the field and laboratory setting.

Synopsis This subject consists of two parts; the first examines the ecological implications of animal behaviour regarding foraging and defence, social organisation and its implications, and the evolution of mating systems; the second part examines neural mechanisms of behaviour and their development.

Assessment Examination (2.5 hours) 50%
* Project Report: 40%
* Group project plan and talk: 10%

Recommended texts

Krebs J R and Davies N B An introduction to behavioural ecology 3rd edn, Blackwell, 1993
Drickamer L C, Vessey S H and Meickle D Animal behaviour 4th edn, W C Brown, 1996