6 ECTS credits
160 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4022289ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Biology
Educational team
Kim Roelants (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
13 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course provides insights in the basic concepts of behavioural biology, from its molecular background to the impact of environmental factors. In five chapters, it explains how behaviour is an important way of an animal to interact with its world. This is done by teaching a combination of established concepts in behavioural biology and recent scientific publications. Theoretical fundamentals will be taught to understand questions like: Why does territoriality exist? What is associative learning? Is a hierarchic ranking in social animals determined by an individual’s behaviour? What types of behavior are predestined in the genes? How flexible is an individual’s response to changing environmental / communication circumstances? The course includes the following chapters:
1) Introduction
2) Communication
3) Genetics of Behaviour
4) Learning
5) Social behavior

In addition, to attain practical experience in the study of animal behaviour, students perform a small behavioural study as an individual practical assignment. The topic is self-chosen but needs approval by the lecturer. Students have three options for the assignment:
Option 1: behavioural study based on live observations:
Option 2: behavioural study based on online movies (e.g. Youtube)
Option 3: Critical literature study of specific behaviour + research plan

Two output forms of the assignment are possible:
form 1. Oral presentation (Options 1–2)
form 2. paper submission (Options 1–3)

Note: Option 3 is an emergency solution and requires specific approval by the lecturer. For this option, only a paper submission is possible.

Additional info

Study material

- Handouts of Powerpoint slides presented in class

- Online movies material for which URLs are provided in de course slides.

- An overview of the course contents expected to be known for the exam

- Optional: text books and scientific papers cited during the course

- A few weeks after the course, a Q&A session can be scheduled to help you addressing remaining questions regarding the course contents or assignment.

 

Learning Outcomes

General Competencies

After following this course, the student has knowledge on some basic concepts in ethology and he/she can make connections between them. The student can formulate critical scientific questions and hypotheses about biological and ethical aspects of studying animal behaviour and can define methods to answer these questions.

By covering an important aspect of animals, this course broadens a biologist’s general knowledge of zoology. Furthermore, the course represents an excellent preparation for any biologist interested in pursuing a research carrier in behavioral biology. After following this course, students are expected to:

  • have comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental theory of animal behavior, including its ecological, molecular genetic, evolutionary aspects;
  • understand how individual flexibility and environmental factors affect animal behavior;
  • have gained enough practical experience to be able to design and perform simple behavioral experiments;
  • be able to report and present personal behavioral observations in a lucid and objective way;
  • be aware of the ethical concerns related to animal experimentation;
  • be capable to understand and critically analyse any literature published on the various aspects of animal behavior covered in the course.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Exam on course contents with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: A practical exercise and presentation of a self-chosen topic (after approval by the course titular) on animal behavior (50%)

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • presentation or paper with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

    Note: An oral exam with written preparation (50%)

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation is baseds on two parts:

1) A practical assignment involving a small behavioural study followed by an oral presentation or a paper submission (50 %). 
(See Course Contents above for more details)

2) A written exam avaluating your knowledge on the course contents (50 %)

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biology: Ecology and Biodiversity