BL4281 Animal Communication and Cognition

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

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 10

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

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

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

Module coordinator

Prof V Janik

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

Module Staff

Prof V Janik, Dr T Gotz, Dr J Oswald

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

Module description

Learning to produce sounds is a particularly interesting subject as far as humans are concerned because it is such a notable feature of our own species. Why do we show it, and how did it evolve? As there is little evidence of it in any other primates we need to look further afield for clues. It is found in several other mammalian orders and in three orders of birds, and the evidence for it and nature of it will be examined in these examples. We will discuss why selection may have favoured it in each case. We will also consider vocal learning in a broader sense, including its use in animals that do not themselves produce sounds.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF BIOLOGY HONOURS ADVISER REQUIRED

Assessment pattern

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

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Existing Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar (x 10 weeks).