Adjustments to the Corona-Pandemic: Althouigh it is still not clear what the situation will be like in August and September we will try to adjust the curriculum as much as possible to online engagement. A link for the course will be posted and sent around in due time.
The aim of this course is to become familiar with concepts and methods used to study animal behavior. Basic principles in animal behavior will be presented and exemplified by research projects on small mammals and birds. Experiments will be conducted largely in the lab. You will work in groups of 2-3 persons.
Experiments on the proximate aspect of behaviour will deal mainly with different aspects of communication. Examples are the participation of the acoustic and the visual sensory channel in courtship behaviour of the zebra finch, the structure and communicative role of calls in birds, or the importance of optical features for the choice of a sexual partner. Other practical projects will be on learning, communication and the study of personality features.
Lectures will provide an overview of animal behaviour and especially deal with aspects important for the understanding of the behaviours under research in the practical part of the course . In the seminars we will discuss principles of experimental design and statistical evaluation of experiments. The seminars will be given by the participants and be based on modern original papers relevant to the above theme and individual projects.
Requirements: Active participation, regular attendance, oral and written report on own project, oral presentation of original papers. The course will be taught in English.
References
Will be announced at the beginning of the term
Frequency | Weekday | Time | Format / Place | Period |
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Module | Course | Requirements | |
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20-BHV-F Function of Behaviour | Function of Behaviour | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
Function of Behaviour | Ungraded examination
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Student information |
The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.
A corresponding course offer for this course already exists in the e-learning system. Teaching staff can store materials relating to teaching courses there: