209504 Mastermodul D: "Animal Behavior" (V+Pr) (WiSe 2010/2011)

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.
The entire workload of the module corresponds to 10 credit points (300 hours) and will be rendered during the time of the module. Course time: 12.10.09 - 27.11.09; Preparation of papers and for examination: 16.-27.11.09

Bibliography

References
Will be announced at the beginning of the winter term