Principles of Animal Behavior BIO 402

Spring 2007

Lectures: Tues, Thurs 11-12, HA 410
Lab: Mon 1-4, HA 408

Course text: Animal Behavior 8e by John Alcock
Lecture schedule     Lab Schedule  
Date General topic Specific topic Chapter   Date Topic reports %
9-Jan Introduction to Animal Behavior Experimental Animal Behavior       Research project description  
11-Jan methods of measuring behavior Proximate and Ultimate Causation 1, 2     Sampling methods  
16-Jan neuroethology
(research title due)		 genetic control of behavior 2, 3   15-Jan MLK - no class  
18-Jan neuroethology circadian rhythms, seasonal cycles 4, 5        
23-Jan endocrine control hormone-induced behavior 4, 5   22-Jan ethogram: crickets 2
25-Jan foraging optimal foraging, MVT 6        
30-Jan foraging Game theory: public information, scrounging 6   29-Jan seed trays at RSC Data Report 2
1-Feb foraging optimality and territoriality 6        
6-Feb foraging/antipredator risk-sensitive foraging     5-Feb social facilitation in fish Data 2
8-Feb midterm 1 (20%)            
13-Feb antipredator grouping behavior     12-Feb crayfish dominance hierarchies 2
15-Feb antipredator pursuit deterrence, habitat shifts          
20-Feb sexual selection anisogamy, reproductive strategies 10   19-Feb gerbil scent-marking 2
22-Feb sexual selection mate choice 10        
27-Feb sexual selection mate competition & mating systems 1 10   26-Feb cricket sex 2
1-Mar mating systems   11        
6-Mar mating systems polygyny 11   5-Mar independent project  
8-Mar mating systems alternative mating tactics 11        
13-Mar Spring break       12-Mar spring break  
15-Mar Spring break            
20-Mar parental care patterns of care 12   19-Mar prisoner's dilemma game 2
22-Mar midterm 2 (20%)   12        
27-Mar parental care alloparental care 12   26-Mar independent project  
29-Mar parental care siblicide, Trivers 12        
3-Apr evolution of communication cues, signals 9   2-Apr prairie chickens 1  
5-Apr evolution of communication courtship, aggression, p-offspring, antipredator 9        
10-Apr evolution of communication deception 9   9-Apr non-instructional day  
12-Apr communication networks eavesdropping 9        
17-Apr kin selection, altruism, cooperation rB>C vs group selection 13   16-Apr prairie chickens 1 5
19-Apr kin selection, altruism, cooperation
Draft of written report due		 helping, altruism 13        
24-Apr kin selection, altruism, cooperation social insects 13   23-Apr chemical ecology  experiment 2
26-Apr human behavior homicide, mate choice 14        
8-May Final (20%)       30-Apr presentations 5
          Final written report due

14
Total for lecture % of grade = 60%         Total for lab% of grade

40