BIOL406 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
| Course Code: | 2380406 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Biology |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. HAVVA DOĞRU |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
1. Briefly present the historical foundations of behavioral sciences, provide insight into a broad range of behavioral topics, and give examples of applications of behavioral sciences to other fields as animal training, and wildlife conservation and management.
2. Introduce the students to the fundamental principles and concepts in animal behavior and explain different approaches to the studies on behavior.
3. Distinguish between ultimate and proximate causes of behavior referring to behavioral ecology and the evolution of behaviors as adaptations.
4. Present a broad range of animal behaviors demonstrating how these behaviors contribute to the direct and indirect fitness and thus individual and species survival.
5. Discuss the intra-species variation and inter-species differences in behavioral strategies.
6. Compare instinctive (inborn) and acquired (learned) behaviors and describe the role of genetic and environmental factors on behavior development.
Course Content
This course reviews conceptual and experimental approaches of ethnologists, experimental psychologists, and neurophysiologists to studies on animal behavior. Distinction between innate and learned behaviors is made. Control mechanisms over execution of various behaviors (including triggering stimuli, motivation, hormones, biorhythms) are discussed. Survey of such behaviors as spatial orientation and navigation, migration, habitat selection, social organization and communication, mating systems and parental care is presented.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. The student will be able to define different approaches to the study on animal behavior.
2. Classify animal behaviors into wide range of different categories.
3. Describe between-species differences in behavioral strategies used.
4. Define the difference between ultimate and proximate causes of different behaviors.
5. Conduct the cost-benefit analysis of optimal behaviors and discuss their contribution to direct or indirect fitness.
6. Discuss the role of species memory and individual experience and learning in shaping behavior.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Perform basic laboratory and field techniques/approaches used in various branches of biology. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Understand and apply principles of laboratory and field safety. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Understand the inner workings of the scientific processes, think critically, and frame questions using experimental and theoretical approaches in biology. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Proficiency in communicating issues in both English and Turkish. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Read, and understand scientific communications from primary literature in biology. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Identify and explain issues in biological sciences. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Be ready to take new theoretical and technological challenges by recognizing the value and act upon the need for lifelong learning. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Work as an individual, as well as a team member, and assume leadship when needed. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Follow the rules of scientific ethics within their careers and professions. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution