Animal behavior is shaped by evolutionary responses to social and ecological conditions. Through interactive lectures, readings, and student projects, students will learn how organism-level behavior can influence ecological populations, communities, and even species conservation. A special focus will be placed on behavioral ecology in response to a changing environment.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: Students in this course will develop and deliver content-review exercises for their peers. Undergraduates will develop a single content review exercise based on one specific lecture (5-10 minutes). Students enrolled in this course for graduate credit will develop two content review exercises: one based on a specific lecture (10 minutes) and one cumulative review exercise that spans multiple units in the course (20 minutes).
Athena Title
Behavioral Ecology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ECOL 4540E or ECOL 6540E
Prerequisite
(ECOL 3500 and ECOL 3500L) or (ECOL 3505H and ECOL 3505L)
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to discuss and predict the genetic and environmental factors that influence animal behavior, especially in the context of a changing environment.
Students will be able to identify how behavior can affect ecological populations (i.e., population growth) and communities (i.e., species interactions), as well as animal conservation.
Students will learn how animal behavior research is conducted through reading primary literature articles, and how it can inform animal conservation efforts.
Students will be able to develop skills associated with verbally communicating science and engaging an audience through student-led content review exercises and presentations.
Topical Outline
Genetic Influences on Behavior
Environmental Influences on Behavior
Learning and Memory
The Four Questions of Animal Behavior and Types of Behavioral Studies
Reproductive Strategies
Parental Care
Animal Conflict
Mating Systems
Sexual Selection
Cooperation, Altruism, and Kin Selection
Game Theory
Animal Social Systems
Foraging
Predation and Parasitism
Coevolution
Animal Communication: Visual and Acoustic
Honest and Dishonest Communication
Human impacts on Animal Communication (noise and light pollution)
