BL4285 Complex Systems in Animal Behaviour

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

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

Dr V A Smith

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

Module Staff

Dr V A Smith

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

Module description

Behaving animals form complex systems, and can create complicated and beautiful phenomena, such as flocks of birds, termite nests, and patterns of army ant swarms. This course will look at research that examines animal behaviour from a complex systems perspective, where analyses range from captive housing of entire bird flocks, computer simulation, and use of robots to interact with the animals. Introductory lectures will be followed by seminar-style discussion of the primary literature, computer practicals, and hands-on practicals where students will identify complex systems in animal behaviour in the world around them.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF BIOLOGY HONOURS ADVISER REQUIRED

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

14 x 1-hour seminars plus 2 x 2-hour computer-based practical classes over 8 weeks

Scheduled learning hours

22

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

Guided independent study hours

128

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify properties of complex systems
  • Assess whether and how a system of animal behaviour represents a complex system
  • Understand complexity-based methods of studying animal behaviour
  • Design experiments using complexity-based methods of studying animal behaviour
  • Search and critique primary literature