BL3319 Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Module capped at 60 students

Planned timetable

Lectures: 9.00 am am Mon, Tue and Wed; Practicals: to be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module is designed to provide a broad and multifaceted perspective on animal behaviour, emphasising contemporary theoretical, mathematical and statistical approaches to the discipline. Nobel-Prize-winning ethologist, Niko Tinbergen, pointed out that to understand behaviour fully researchers had to answer four types of questions, about its causation, function, development and evolution. All four areas are covered in the course, which includes lectures on the genetic, neural, physiological and experiential (i.e. learning) influences on behaviour; behavioural development; foraging; sexual behaviour, sexual selection and mate choice; communication, cooperation and culture. The course contains extensive material of a formal theoretical nature, and emphasises quantitative skills throughout. Students will be introduced to new mathematical and statistical approaches within the field.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS BL2303 OR PASS BL2307 OR PASS BL2312

Assessment pattern

Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x 1-hour lectures (x 11 weeks), 3 x 1- hour mini-project group meetings during the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

36

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

164

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.