Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:09
Students carry out weekly practical activities which provide opportunities to observe animals, learn and practice the methods we use to study behaviour, and improve their ability to ask ecological and evolutionary questions about animal behaviour. Before the practical sessions we give a lecture covering the subject area and methods we will use that week. We conduct sessions at Newburgh seal beach, the Loch of Strathbeg, and in the Science Teaching Hub in Aberdeen.
We provide training in the use of observational techniques such the different types of behavioural sampling and video recording, and data-based methods such as social network analysis. This equips you with the skills to explore and understand all kinds of animal behaviour.
Students analyse data from their observations and write up reports each week. We provide regular feedback to allow you to rapidly improve your writing and analysis skills.
Students will apply their knowledge by conducting their own bespoke research project, setting your question, 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 |
|
||
One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
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 based on four practical sessions; visiting two natural hotspots in 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 you to improve week on week.
Following these weekly practicals, students will design with own research project, giving you control over each step of the process. Projects can be conducted on wild animals or on animals in captivity. You will use what you have learnt in the previous weeks to analyse the data you have collected and produce an individual report on your 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 course students will be able to:
• Understand and apply key concepts in animal behaviour
• Develop observational skills, such as direct observations and the set-up and recording of video footage, to accurately record behaviours in diverse animals
• Learn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of animal behaviour.
• Develop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment
• To understand the fundamentals of experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis and conduct simple behavioural experiments both in the field and laboratory.
• Evaluate and analyse field and lab data
• To develop skills in effective communication and working as part of a team, including producing written reports and field/lab notebooks.
Topics covered include (note subjects may vary from year to year):
• Types of sampling for animal behaviour
• Appropriate notetaking, including recording relevant metadata
• Observing large vertebrates in the field
• Handling and marking individual invertebrates
• Social network analysis in the software “R”
• Video analysis of animal behaviour
• Linking behaviour to species identification and adaptive functions
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| 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 | 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 | 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 | Evaluate | Understand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology |
| 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 |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Develop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment |
| 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 |
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
