Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology: Frontiers and Approaches
| Module title | Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology: Frontiers and Approaches |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM4046 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Andrew Young (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module is designed to deepen your understanding of the principles and frontiers of current research in Evolutionary Biology and Behavioural Ecology (the study of Animal Behaviour from an evolutionary perspective). It also provides hands-on training and experience with the diverse research methods used in evolutionary and behavioural biology. The module is delivered by an outstanding team of front-line researchers in these fields, and draws on the breadth and depth of research in evolutionary biology, animal behaviour and conservation biology here at Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation in Cornwall.
In our ‘Frontiers’ sessions we focus on developing conceptual understanding of key research areas, through a combination of lectures on the fundamental principles and interactive discussion groups unpacking and debating recent research findings. We aim to expose you to a wide variety of topics from across evolutionary and behavioural ecology with a view to helping you find your passion. These topics can vary from year to year, but typically span how evolution works, social behaviour, social networks, cooperation, sexual selection and mating systems, life-histories and senescence, personality, disease evolution, and predicting evolutionary change.
In our ‘Approaches’ sessions we introduce and gain first-hand experience with the diverse modern methods used in evolutionary and behavioural research. The techniques covered can vary from year to year, but typically span measuring animal behaviour, analysing individual differences in behaviour, comparative analysis, modelling sensory systems and the evolutionary process, next-generation sequencing, studying microbial behaviour in the lab, and designing your own research programme.
The breadth and depth of the material covered in this module is reflected in its double credit weighting (30 credits, rather than the usual 15).
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module deals with the frontiers and approaches of modern Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology and will prepare you to be able to critically evaluate current research in the field and to plan your own research programme. The module aims to provide a synthetic understanding of the scientific processes in general, but in particular to provide an in-depth theoretical basis underpinning evolutionary and behavioural ecology. Our attention to the frontiers of evolutionary and behavioural ecological research spans the evolution of cooperative behaviour, social relationships, sexual selection, genetic conflict, host-pathogen coevolution and parental effects. Our attention to leading edge approaches in evolutionary and behavioural ecology spans quantifying behaviour, social network analysis, mathematical modelling of evolutionary theory, genetic sequences and sequence analysis, phylogenetic comparative analysis and evolutionary quantitative genetic analysis. You will first be introduced to these topics and methods and then skilled in how they relate to research at the frontiers of our current understanding in evolutionary and behavioural ecology.
This module will ensure that you will have the appropriate understanding of the theoretical and practical principles underlying evolutionary and behavioural ecology research, in particular those that are relevant to your research project. The main aim of this module is to provide you with the ability to critically assess current scientific literature and methodologies across the field, which will greatly facilitate the planning and execution of your independent research project. The module will also equip you very well for a future research-oriented career.
Learning will be structured into week-long blocks each focussing on a different key topic and associated approaches (see below), and will be supported by interactive lectures, active participation in discussion groups and practical activities, as well as independent study.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe, fully and systematically, key concepts and approaches in evolutionary and behavioural ecology
- 2. Critically and independently assess the research area
- 3. Conduct a literature review of a current research topic in the research areas covered
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Discuss ideas and construct coherent arguments (both in writing and orally) based on their independent and critical assessment of the discipline
- 5. Solve practical and theoretical problems in evolutionary biology
- 6. Critically assess scientific literature
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Professionally present new ideas and results (both in writing and orally)
- 8. Prioritise, generate, and summarise data relevant to the testing of rational hypotheses
- 9. Present written reports in a clear, concise, and logical manner
- 10. Think critically, and critically appraise and logically solve problems
Syllabus plan
Lectures and group discussion
The module will include lectures and group discussions on the frontiers of our knowledge in key fields in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology. Topics may change, but will typically include the following:
- The Evolutionary Process
- The Evolution of Cooperative Behaviour
- Sexual Selection and Mating Systems
- Life history evolution
- Social Relationships, Cognition and Culture
- Host-Pathogen Coevolution
- Emerging Infectious Disease
- Maternal and Paternal Effects
- The Evolution and Development of Personality
- Studying Evolution in Action
Practical activities
The module will also include a strong practical component, focussed on key approaches in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology. Topics may change, but will typically include the following:
- Quantifying Animal Behaviour
- Mathematical Modelling of Evolutionary Theory
- Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
- Social Network Analysis
- Genetic Sequencing
- Utilising Sequence Data
- Experimental Evolution
- Evolutionary Quantitative Genetic Analysis
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 235 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 45 | Interactive Discussion & Practical Sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 235 | Additional research, reading and preparation for module assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer questions during lectures and practical sessions | Ongoing throughout the module | 1-10 | Oral |
| Discussion during classes | Ongoing throughout the module | 1-10 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay in a Nature News and Views Format | 33 | Up to 1500 words | 1-10 | Written |
| Grant Application | 33 | Up to 1500 words | 1-10 | Written |
| Research Report | 34 | Up to 1500 words | 1-10 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay in a Nature News and Views Format | Essay in a Nature News and Views Format | 1-10 | Referral/deferral period |
| Grant Application | Grant Application | 1-10 | Referral/deferral period |
| Research Report | Research Report | 1-10 | Referral/deferral period |
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 50%) you will be required to redo the relevant assessment. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
The module will draw extensively on primary published research papers in peer-reviewed journals.
The following would serve as excellent background reading to support the learning in key areas…
- Davies, N.B., Krebs, J.R. and West, S.A. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology (4th ed), Blackwells, 2012.
- Ridley, M. Evolution (3rd ed), Blackwells, 2003
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 21/05/2021 |
| Last revision date | 21/03/2024 |
