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ZOOL326 Animal Behaviour

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus B - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus B - Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
15 April 2010 18 April 2010 Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites BIOL110 and BIOL120 or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Hugh Ford (hford@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The unit provides students with an introduction to the study of animal behaviour. It will focus on the behaviour of animals in their natural environment, especially Australian birds and mammals. The approach will be evolutionary, stressing the ways in which birds and mammals find food, avoid being taken by predators and reproduce (including life histories, mate choice, and parental care). Students will be taught how to conduct studies on wild animals.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Animal Behaviour: Mechanisms, Ecology and Evolution
ISBN: 9780070121997
Drickamer, L.C., McGraw-Hill 5th ed. 2001
Note: OR the Alcock book
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Animal Behaviour
ISBN: 9780878932252
Alcock, J., Sinauer Assoc. 9th ed. 2009
Note: OR the Drickamer book
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Referenced Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Reference material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Ecology of Birds: An Australian Perspective
ISBN: 0949324191
Ford, H.A., Surrey Beatty & Sons
Note: Available from the Dixson Library, UNE
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Practical Reports (2) 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 4 GA: 4
Project Outline 5% 500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 5 GA: 6
Project Report 30% 2000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3, 5 GA: 1, 4, 6
Final Examination 2 hrs 50%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 GA: 1, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. broadly understand the study of animal behaviour;
  2. understand and explain how evolution influences the behaviour of animals;
  3. analyse the behaviour of Australian birds and mammals;
  4. critically evaluate different techniques used for studying behaviour in the field;
  5. develop, carry out and write up a small project on behaviour.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
A series of lectures presents knowledge of the subject, supported by a textbook, CD with lecture notes and pdfs of papers, plus blackboard. The exam will assess knowledge, and knowledge will be practiced while performing and writing up practical assignments. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students present writtenreport on their animal behaviour project. 		True
3 Global Perspectives
A major part of the unit involves comparison of the behaviour of Australian birds with those of other continents. 		True
4 Information Literacy
Simple statistical analysis is taught, practiced and assessed in the practicals and project. 		True True True
6 Problem Solving
Students are taught how to study animal behaviour - observation, hypothesis generation and testing, both in lectures and practicals - and practise it in their project. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
There is some coverage of ethical issues in studying animal behaviour and also the relevance of behavioural studies to conservation. 		True
8 Team Work
Students often work in pairs or small groups in collecting and analyzing data. 		True
   

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