BIO 2050 (PSY 2040). Animal Behavior. Spring 2007

Catalog Description: A survey of the functional and complexity catagories of behavior with emphasis in the animal kingdom. Examples will range from one-celled organisms to humans. Other selected topics will include the evolution of behavior, sociobiology, animal cultures, behavioral ecology, behavioral genetics, neurobiology, consciousness and others. Three one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Laboratory time will consist of a mix of demonstrations, experiments, and films. (Prerequisite: Biology 100 & 102)

Goals: To gain a broad overview of the topic of animal behavior. To acquire explanations and examples of the many categories of behavior, the many subdisciplines of behavioral study, and the adaptive nature and evolution of behavior. To gain some proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and writing up behavioral data in a scientific manner. To gain some proficiency in reading and summarizing behavioral papers.

Required Text: Exploring Animal Behavior 4th edition. Sherman & Alcock editors. There will be other readings in the form of handouts.

Grading: There will be 3 Lecture Exams which each count 25% of the course. These will also cover any material presented in lab sessions. They will be a mix of objective and short-answer questions. The remaining 25% of the course will be an average of your scores on 3-4 lab write-ups of data sets and paper summaries. I will use a 10-point grading scale (80-89.9 = B, etc.) and I will use the +/- system, assigning B-, B, or B+ within the B range, etc.

My web site (above) includes my list of tips for success in university coursework., the one I mention in zoology. If you haven’t checked it out, you might still benefit greatly from some of the ideas listed there.

Cheating: Cheating on exams will result in a zero on that exam.

Cell Phones: No professor appreciates cell phones ringing in the class. Please turn them off or to vibrator mode while in class—OFF is preferable, unless you are expecting an emergency call.

Class Visitors: Please check with me beforehand if you should ever have someone with you who you want to sit in on the class session (especially so in the case of children).

Attendance: I of course will expect attendance at every class meeting (both lecture & lab). If you are a responsible adult who cares about your education, you will strive for perfect attendance. I will not take attendance nor will you be either rewarded or punished for your attendance habits. Missed class notes (except handouts) will not be obtained from me. If you miss an exam, it is totally your responsibility to ask about and arrange a make-up exam with me.

Behavior: I expect you to be aware of the contents of the Academic Honor Code, found in Section IV. Rights and Responsibilites of the Student Handbook (online and hardcopy), and its wording on cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and the Code of Conduct. I especially stress that you should be in class to take notes, ask questions, give input when it is pertinent, and to give your attention to what is being presented in the class. Any continued/repetitive form of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. You need to be respectful of the material presented and of your fellow students who have come to learn the material. As laid out in the Student Handbook under Code of Conduct (items 15 & 17), disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Should disruptive behavior become excessive, you will be asked to leave the classroom, and you must seek permission from me before reentering the class on the next class day. Continued problem behavior will be reported to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and you may be administratively withdrawn from the class. Do not bring food to either lectures or lab. Drinks will be tolerated if you are careful and clean up any spilled liquid.

Closing Hotline: The school does at times cancel classes for all or part of a day, usually due to bad weather. To find out if classes are running as usual, call the University Hotline at: (910) 521-6888.

DISABILITY: Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is required to speak directly to Disablility Support Services and the instructor as early as possible, preferably within the 1st week. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact: Disability Support Services, DF Lowery Building, Room 107 or call 521-6695 for an appointment.

BRIEF LECTURE SYLLABUS:  (I will make reading assignments in the text as we go along)

What is Behavior?
Some of the History of Ethology
The Adaptative Nature of Behavior (sexual selection, inclusive fitness, selfish genes)
Behavioral Genetics
The Evolution of Behavior
EXAM I

"Functional" Categories of Behavior
     * Social Behavior
     * Territorial Behavior
     * Play Behavior
     * Tool-using Behavior
     * Dormancy Behavior with emphasis on Sleep
Behavior & the Endocrine System
Behavior & Development (Ontogeny & Aging)
Behavioral Ecology
Neurobiology & Behavior (Neuroethology)
EXAM II

Sociobiology (Altruism & Inclusive Fitness)
"Complexity" Levels of behavior:
* Kineses
* Taxes
* Reflexes
* Instinctive Behavior Patterns (Fixed-action patterns)
* Learning: -Habituation
          -Sensitization
          -Imprinting
          -Latent learning
          -Motor learning/memory
          -Classical conditioning
          -Operant conditioning (& Behaviorism)
          -Observational learning
          -Episodic vs. Sematic learning/memory
          -Student-teacher learning
* Reasoning: -Association reasoning/learning
          -Insight reasoning
Animal Cultures
Emotion
Cognition & Consciousness; What is "Mind"?
EXAM III