Last modified: 05 Oct 2023 08:46
Weekly practical activities will provide opportunities to observe animals, develop an understanding of the adaptive value of animal behaviour, and the practical methods we use to study it. Each will be preceded by a lecture covering the subject area and the expectations for the practical that week.
Tasks involving the design of simple experiments to address cause and function of animal behaviour will develop skills in experimental design and hypothesis testing.
Training in the use of a lab/field notebook allows students to demonstrate competence in record keeping. Written reports on a practical experiment supports the develop of communication skills.
Students will apply their knowledge by conducting their own research project, setting their question and choosing a study system, collecting, visualising, and analysing data, and writing up the report
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The overall aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the adaptive value of animal behaviour and how it can be measured and analysed. The course is framed around two day trips around Aberdeenshire to observe wildlife and two practical sessions based on animals in captivity. Work will involve both large vertebrates and intriguing invertebrates, with students designing simple experiments to address cause and function of animal behaviour. These tasks are assessed with weekly reports completed in pairs, with feedback given in a timely manner to allow the student to improve week on week.
Following these weekly practicals, students will design with own research project, giving them control over each step of the process. Projects can be conducted on wild animals, on animals in captivity, and those viewable from online webcams. Students will use what they have learnt in the previous weeks to analyse the data they collect and produce an individual report on their project.
Throughout the course students will keep a notebook of the field and lab work, including raw data, informal observations, metadata, and other notes. This notebook is handed in for assessment at the end of the course.
By the end of the curse students will able to:
Topics covered include (note subjects may vary from year to year):
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Evaluate and analyse field and lab data |
| Procedural | Analyse | To understand the fundamentals of experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis and conduct simple behavioural experiments both in the field and laboratory |
| Procedural | Apply | Develop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Understand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology |
| Reflection | Analyse | To develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks. |
| Reflection | Create | Learn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Develop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
4 group short reports worth 10% each Informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Evaluate and analyse field and lab data |
| Procedural | Apply | Develop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Understand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology |
| Reflection | Analyse | To develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks. |
| Reflection | Create | Learn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Individual written feedback on the notebook; informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Develop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals |
| Reflection | Analyse | To develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks. |
| Reflection | Create | Learn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students will repeat whichever elements of the assessment were failed or not completed at first sitting; the marks for elements already passed will be carried forwards. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | To understand the fundamentals of experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis and conduct simple behavioural experiments both in the field and laboratory |
| Procedural | Analyse | Evaluate and analyse field and lab data |
| Reflection | Analyse | To develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks. |
| Procedural | Apply | Develop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Understand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology |
| Reflection | Create | Learn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Develop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment |
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