2010 Course Handbook
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BBE200: Animal Behaviour
This unit explores the fascinating world of animal behaviour, searching out unifying principles that underlie the extreme diversity of nature. Why do birds and bees sing and dance? What keeps families together? How do animals find food? How do animals with very different sensory systems find their way about? This unit briefly explores the physiological and neural mechanisms underpinning behaviour, and then focuses on the function and evolution of natural behaviour. Lectures explore the natural behaviour of diverse animal species, from insects to humans, using instructive examples to illustrate evolution, navigation, foraging, predator–prey interactions, mating systems, mate choice, conflict, communication, and social behaviour. Practical work involves a series of laboratory classes that provide training in observational techniques. Students then apply these skills in an independent observational project on an animal species of their choice.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 5 |
| When Offered: | D1 - Day; Offered in the first half-year Xc1 - External study (composite mode); Offered in the first half-year |
| Staff Contact(s): | Dr Phil Taylor |
| Prerequisites: |
12cp |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Biological Sciences |
Timetable Information
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