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  6. ZO4539: ADVANCED BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY

ZO4539: ADVANCED BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY (2016-2017)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This course will give you the opportunity to explore, for example, why some individuals behave differently from others within the same species, and how insights on behaviours can improve the implementation of conservation plans.

Academics working at the cutting edge of behavioural research will report on the state-of-art in their field.

Directed learnings will encourage further exploration of core topics through discussion of research papers and construction of computer-based models to illustrate concepts.

A continuous assessment where you will produce a grant proposal for research into behavioural ecology will introduce you to the process of research planning.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Pierre Bize

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of BSc Biology (Studied) or BSc Conservation Biology (Studied) or BSc Plant Biology (Studied) or BSc Zoology (Studied) or BSc Animal Ecology (Studied) or Non-Graduating Student in Zoology Erasmus (Studied) or BSc Marine Biology (Studied) or BSc Parasitology (Studied) or MSci Biological Sciences (Studied) or BSc Plant and Soil Sciences (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Primary) (Studied) or BSc Ecology (Studied) or BSc Wildlife Management (Studied) or BSc Forestry (Studied) or BSc Forest Sciences (Studied) or BSc Environmental Science (Studied) or BSc Environmental Science (Physical Sci) (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Secondary) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • One of BI2001 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2016 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2019 Community Ecology (Passed) or BI2020 Ecology (Passed) or ZO3010 Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (Passed) or ZO3011 Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (Passed) or ZO3303 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3304 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3305 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3306 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3307 Animal Population Ecology (Passed) or ZO3507 Animal Behaviour (Passed) or ZO3508 Marine Ecology and Ecosystems (Passed) or ZO3510 Animal Behaviour (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Topics covered include investigating optimality and game theory, ecological and evolutionary aspects of personality traits, mate choice, mating systems and sexual conflict and the role of behaviour in management and conservation. This course will introduce techniques commonly employed in behavioural ecology research. Emphasis will be placed on quantitative and statistical approaches to theoretical and practical behavioural research. Lectures will be supplemented by case studies in key topics, student-centred learning, discussion groups and debates based on current journal articles. An important practical component of the course will be centred upon the exploration of theoretical concepts using a computer-based modelling approach.

Associated Costs

None

Further Information & Notes

Only available to students in level 4 Zoology, Biology and other Biological Sciences degrees. Pre-requisite should be strictly adhered to.

This course runs in weeks 25-29, and is scheduled in Thread 1, so may have contact hours in any or all of these times:  Mondays, 9-13; Thursday, all day; Friday, 9-13.  If this is an optional course, there may also be contact hours on Wednesdays, 11-13.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%). Continuous assessment is made up of an oral presentation and a written report related to the grant proposal.

Resit: 1 three-3 hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

A strong emphasis will be made throughout the course on informal verbal feedback during practical and presentation sessions.

Feedback

Each student will receive individual feedback and a mark for each task. Feedback will be provided as written comments. Groups will also be given generic feedback. Students who are identified as having difficulty in successfully completing the coursework assessment tasks will be invited to meet members of the course team to identify difficulties and discuss solutions.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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