Evolution & Behaviour

12 EC

Semester 2, periode 4

5042EVB12Y

Eigenaar Bachelor Biologie
Coördinator dr. I.M. Smallegange
Onderdeel van Bachelor Biologie, jaar 3Bachelor Bèta-gamma, major Biologie, jaar 3Bachelor Psychobiologie, jaar 3

Studiewijzer 2015/2016

Globale inhoud

General introduction into behavioural biology, from an evolutionary perspective.

Subjects lectures

  • Questions about behaviour.
  • Evolution and behaviour.
  • Physiological mechanisms and behaviour.
  • Motivation and cognition.
  • Development: from genes to behaviour.
  • Development: maturation and learning.
  • Finding a place to live.
  • Finding food.
  • Social behaviour.
  • Mating and parental care.
  • Communication.

Special attention will be given to topics that are currently enjoying much attention in behavioural biology research: evolution of altruism, animal personality, alternative reproductive tactics, choice behaviour and evolution of communication.

Subjects of assignments
In the first three weeks individual assignments are carried out: a presentation assignment to get into the topic, a practical assignment to make an ethogram in Artis, and an essay assignment on the ?Seven deadly sins in the study of behaviour?.

Subjects of practicals
The development and execution of an experimental research question in small groups is the core of the practicals. The research topics address altruistic behaviour in humans. The results from the practicals will be communicated by the students in a presentation session. Also included is a small theoretical investigation into the evolution of behaviour in game theoretical models of cooperation and altruism. This investigation will focus on evolution in spatially structured populations (e.g., cellular automata). This research project will be rounded off with a short written report.

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

  • Available on Blackboard

  • Animal Behaviour ? Mechanism, Development, Function and Evolution. Chris Barnard. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-089936-4. (approximately Euro 40,-). PLEASE NOTE: during the course in February 2015 the book was freely available on Internet as an ebook (pdf-file).

Syllabus

  • Available on Blackboard

Leerdoelen

  • Acquiring general knowledge of behavioural biology
  • Acquiring specific knowledge of evolutionary behavioural biology
  • Acquiring practical skills in constructing an ethogram and in making behavioural observations
  • Acquiring practical skills in setting up and executing behavioural experiments, in particular concerning human behaviour
  • Acquiring practical skills in analyzing models of spatially structured populations
  • Acquiring practical skills in writing an essay in English
  • Honing analytical thinking by means of an essay-assignment
  • Honing research attitude by means of two practical assignments
  • Discriminate between different tests used in preference studies; to design and conduct a preference test, analyse and interpret the results and present the results
  • Use cellular automata to understand spatial pattern formation in evolution of altruistic behavior

Onderwijsvormen

  • Hoorcollege
  • Veldwerk/excursie
  • Zelfstudie
  • Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
  • Werkcollege
  • (Computer)practicum
Lectures15%
Computerpractical5%
Practical (experimental research)20%
Self study60%

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Activiteit

Aantal uur

Computerpracticum

74

Excursie

8

Hoorcollege

30

Presentatie

4

Tentamen

3

Vragenuur

2

Werkcollege

12

Zelfstudie

203

Totaal ECS 12 x 28 

336

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

  • Deelname aan alle (computer)practica, veldwerk en werkcolleges in het curriculum is verplicht.

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Attendance at lectures is highly recommended.

Toetsing

Onderdeel en weging Details Opmerkingen

Eindcijfer

5%

Presentation lecture

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

5%

Formulation of questions

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

5%

Ethogram

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

5%

Essay

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

15%

Presentation experimental work during practical

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

15%

Report computer practical

minimum grade averaged across all assignments should be 5.0, grade doesn't expire

50%

Exam

Moet ≥ 5 zijn, Herkansbaar

Inzage toetsing

De datum, het tijdstip en de locatie van het inzagemoment staan in het rooster in DataNose.

Opdrachten

lecture presentation assignment

  • individual

formulation of one question prior to each lecture assignment

  • individual

practical assignment

  • to make an ethogram in Artis (in groups of 2)

essay assignment

  • on the 'Seven deadly sins in the study of behaviour' (individual assignment)

preference test

  • perform, analyse test. (hand in: data, computer code, presentation) (in groups of 2)

report

  • write an report on the results of the computer practical (in small groups)

Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:

  •    Naam opdracht 1 : beschrijving 2
  •    Naam opdracht 2 : beschrijving 1
  •    ....

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: www.uva.nl/plagiaat

Rooster

The course schedule can be found at https://datanose.nl/

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

  • dr. I.M. Smallegange