BIO 432 Animal Behavior

Course Objectives:: This course strongly emphasizes the functional significance of animal behavior; we can refer to the subject as behavioral ecology. Most lectures present a mathematical model treating behavior as adaptation under constraint, in order to understand principles addressing evolution of behavioral phenotypes. Consequently, students should gain familiarity with concepts evolutionary ecologists employ to predict behavior, and to explain behavioral diversity in nature. As the course progresses, students should be able to read, interpret and evaluate the original literature in behavioral ecology. Students will demonstrate attainment of objectives in an exam, and by writing a series of papers.
Course Prerequisites:: No fewer than 12 credit hours in biology; completion of MAT 106 or higher-level calculus course, or completion of a Physics course with calculus. Students should have familiarity with derivatives and integrals. Students may find The Calculus Page useful.
Classroom Procedures:: Students should arrive on time when attending lecture, and be quiet when lecture begins. Students should read the Undergraduate Bulletin's discussion of plagiarism, and understand the significance of violations of academic integrity (see pages 20 - 22 in the 2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin).
Text:: No textbook is required. A series of reading lists will posted on this page.
For those students who wish to purchase a useful textbook, the recommended text is Principles of Animal Behavior, Second Edition (2009), by Dr. L.A. Dugatkin, W.W. Norton, New York, NY.
Grade Determination:: Course grades will depend on results of a single hourly exam, and on the quality of three papers (each 10-12 pages, double spaced). Questions will emphasize mathematical methods needed to understand models and tests of hypotheses in behavioral ecology.; Each paper will address topics discussed in a different series of lectures. For each paper, a searate reading list, to help students develop their papers, will be available on this web page.
Final grades are based on the test and three papers; each contributes 25% of the course grade.