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Animal Behaviour

Module description

Why do birds of paradise engage in costly, colourful dancing displays? Why do some social insects spend their entire lives helping rear their siblings rather than breeding themselves? Why do Arctic tern fly from the Antarctic to the Arctic circle and back again on an annual basis? From killer whales to caterpillars, meerkats to micro-organisms, the variety of behaviours observed in the animal kingdom is fascinating and has captured the interest of biologists for centuries. This module will explore the evolutionary origins of the spectacular diversity of behaviour that we see in the natural world, the mechanisms by which animals regulate their behaviour, and how understanding both of these can help us tackle challenges in our changing world. Using a mixture of classroom, field and laboratory teaching, this module will expose you to cutting edge research in this exciting field.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to investigate animal behaviour in an evolutionary context, building on the principles introduced in the first year ‘Evolution & Genetics’ module (BIO1436). In Term 1, we will consider adaptive explanations for a diverse array of behaviours, including those that help animals find food, manage risk, find mates, care for young, communicate & cooperate with conspecifics. This module will also extend your knowledge of molecular genetic techniques learnt in 1st year and consider how they can be used for animal behaviour research. In Term 2, we consider how knowledge of the mechanisms underlying behaviour can help us understand them. This will include consideration of the neural, physiological and endocrine basis of behaviour, as well as consideration of how behaviours are influenced by genes and the environment, including both the social and sensory environment. Finally, we will consider how the topics covered in this module can help us understand our own human behaviour and how the study of animal behaviour could be used to mitigate the impacts of human induced global change on animal populations.

As well as providing an in--depth knowledge of current animal behaviour research, this module will enhance employability by providing training in the measurement and analysis of animal behaviour, statistical methods, molecular techniques (including practical techniques), and cutting-edge evolutionary thinking. This module will also provide opportunities to develop transferrable skills such as scientific writing, critical thinking, time management and teamwork.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop an understanding of proximate and ultimate explanations for animal behaviour.
• 2. Be aware of the methods used to study animal behaviour, including the roles of correlational, experimental and comparative studies.
• 3. Discuss the different genetic techniques that can be used to address behavioural questions in wild populations, and understand how genetics is rapidly changing our understanding of behavioural processes
• 4. Display knowledge, skills and understanding of how genetic data are generated, analysed and interpreted
• 5. Understand how a knowledge of animal behaviour can help us understand our own human societies
• 6. Be aware that human activity can change how animals behave in the wild, and how an understanding of animal behaviour can help us tackle global challenges

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Describe in some detail essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of biosciences
• 8. Identify critical questions from the literature and synthesise research-informed examples from the literature into written work
• 9. Identify and implement, with guidance, appropriate methodologies and theories for addressing specific research problems in biosciences
• 10. With some guidance, deploy established techniques of analysis, practical investigation, and enquiry within biosciences
• 11. Describe and evaluate approaches to our understanding of biosciences with reference to primary literature, reviews and research articles

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 12. Develop, with some guidance, a logical and reasoned argument with valid conclusions
• 13. Communicate ideas, principles and theories fluently using a variety of formats in a manner appropriate to the intended audience
• 14. Collect and interpret appropriate data and complete research-like tasks, drawing on a range of sources, with limited guidance
• 15. Evaluate own strengths and weaknesses in relation to professional and practical skills, and apply own evaluation criteria
• 16. Reflect effectively on learning experiences and summarise personal achievements

Syllabus plan

The module will be delivered via face-to-face lectures, discussions and practical classes.  Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following topics: 

• Approaches to studying animal behaviour
• Finding food and managing risk
• Communication and signalling
• Sexual selection and sexual conflict
• Mating systems & parental care
• Social behaviour and cooperation
• The use of molecular genetic techniques for studying animal behaviour
• The neural and physiological basis of behaviour
• Sensory ecology
• Intergenerational effects, social learning and culture
• Human behaviour
• Animal behaviour in the Anthropocene

Practical sessions will reinforce topics covered in lectures, focussing particularly on scientific enquiry skills.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Davies, N.B., Krebs, J. and West, S.A. 2012, An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 4th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell
• Rubenstein, D. R. 2023, Animal Behaviour, 12^th Edition. Oxford University Press

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page

Key words search

Evolution, ecology, animal behaviour, altruism, foraging behaviour, molecular genetics, cooperation and life histories