ADVANCED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Bio 3065/5065

 

Dr. Nancy E. Todd	FALL (2006, 2008)
Office: BR 228a	M 4:30-7:30 PM
Phone: 323-5121 Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.geocities.com/elephaslady	Office Hours: See Webpage

                       

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Why are dogs so social?  What do chimps think when they see a puzzle?  Do elephants really never forget? How and why do birds migrate seasonally, and what about those gaudy tail feathers?  Is human behavior comparable in any way to animals? This course will use scientific methods to identify pattern and process in animal behavior, and discuss and evaluate basic ecological and evolutionary principles that shape behavior to gain a better understanding of the way animals and humans interact with their environments and each other.

 

Class Text:  Alcock, J. 2001. Animal Behavior 7^th Edition. Massachusetts. Sinauer Associates.

 

Additional reading: (On reserve at library and in lab)

As assigned

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

            Reading:  Chapters from the text must be read before coming to the scheduled lecture                            covering that material.  There may also be additional handouts or reading                                                 assignments to accompany the reading and lecture material. 

            Attendance and Class Participation:  Students are required to attend one lecture each                             week.  Good attendance is required and will be noted. Students are expected to                                   answer questions and offer discussion when appropriate.

            Student Project: All students will participate in a class research project involving Siamese

fighting fish. Each student will focus on a question related to the overall project. This will be turned in as a formal written research project, with abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, conclusion and bibliography. Students will present a short summary of their project to the class at the end of the semester. Students are expected to find extra time outside of class to work on this project during the 4 weeks that we are conducting the research.

            Exams:  There will be 2 quizzes and 1 take home exam.

 

Graduate Students:  Graduate students in the school of education will be required to organize a presentation and class discussion on a topic of their choice. A project title will be selected in the first weeks of the course and a proposal will be submitted. These presentations will occur throughout the course to match the syllabus and schedule. The presentation will include a short powerpoint introduction to the topic, specially picked assigned reading, and a discussion mediated by the student. This will be done in addition to the regular class assignments. All work done by graduate students is expected to be exemplary, and above the B level.

 

• Students are expected to be working on their projects throughout the course.  There will be a strict timetable of required work.

 

• BLACKBOARD: Students will be required to enroll in Blackboard at Manhattanville. This is an online system for downloading assignments, checking web pages and announcements and discussion. To enroll in the class, go to http://blackboard.mville.edu/. If you don’t have an account, click on “Create account” and follow the directions. Once you have an account, click on “Course catalogue”. Select “Biology” and look for this class in the list. Click on the “Enroll” button to the far right. The password is alcock.

 

• CLASS CONDUCT: Students are expected to do their own work on the exams, written work and lab reports.  Even though the lab projects will be done in teams, each student is responsible for his/her own write-up of the project. Copying or plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the class. All students must read, print and sign the Biology Honor Code Contract, which can be found at http://www.mville.edu/biology/honorcode.html.

 

• THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS. If you are going to miss a lecture exam, you must contact me before the exam takes place, and you must produce a written excuse from your doctor or the dean's office.  If you miss an exam or lab and do not contact the professors beforehand, you will receive a zero (0) for that exam or lab exercise. 

 

• LATE WORK: All work is due on specified dates. Late submission will result in a 5 pts. per day penalty. Work submitted more than 2 weeks beyond the specified due date will not be accepted.

 

• ALL WORK is due on DECEMBER 13, 2004. Work submitted beyond this date will not be accepted.

 

Graded Material:

Exams	60%
Student project	20%
Literature assignments	10%
Class participation	10%

LECTURE SCHEDULE

 

Class Schedule	Topics	Reading
Week 1	• LABOR DAY – No Class
Week 2	• Introduction, classic studies in animal behavior Scientific method, writing a paper, primary sources	Chap. 1
Week 3	• Evolutionary Theory and Adaptation Report Introduction and abstract
Week 4	• Genetics and the environment: Nature vs. Nurture Materials and Methods	Chaps. 3-4
Week 5	QUIZ #1 • Neural control of behavior Results and conclusions	Chaps. 5-6
Week 6	• NO CLASS – Columbus Day   • Evolution of sex and mate choice Aggression and sex in Betta splendens, are males and females created equal?	Chap. 11
Week 7	• Evolution of mating systems Fighting fish project	Chap. 12
Week 8	• Parental care Fighting fish project	Chap. 13
Week 9	• Evolution of social behavior Fighting fish project	Chap. 14
Week 10	Fighting fish project
Week 11	• Anti-predator behavior	Chap. 7
Week 12	• Feeding and communication	Chaps. 8, 10
Week 13	• Human Behavior	Chap. 15
Week 14	• PRESENTATIONS