BIOL 3407 Syllabus
BIOLOGY 3407 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR 4 credits
SPRING 2004
semester
Lecture TR
10:50-12:05,
W120 Lab W
2:30-4:30,
T125
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Diana Comuzzie
OFFICE: Trull 120 PHONE: 792-7244
OFFICE HOURS: M-F
9:00-10:00;
other times by appointment
E-MAIL:
COMUZZIE@SCHREINER.EDU
DESCRIPTION: Animal Behavior is a course that explores the evolutionary, morphological and motivational causes of behavior patterns in animals. Behaviors to be studied include locomotion, comfort, migration, learning, communication, aggression, courtship, feeding, domestication and social organization, as well as others.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to:
-understand behavioral terms and principles
-contrast motivations for different behaviors
-relate evolutionary principles to behavior patterns
-identify and properly record observations of behavior
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Demonstrate knowledge of material by subjective and objective exams; read and prepare a book report of a book approved by the instructor; record behavioral observations in proper format in a journal; and prepare written reports of lab experiments. Prepare a research paper on an animal behavior topic. Attendance in class is required.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Make-ups of major exams may only be completed when the instructor grants an excuse for a specific absence. The excuse may ONLY be requested by the student on the day the student returns to class following the absence. Absences related to fiduciary obligations to the college (e.g., athletic events, but not practices) are considered excused absences. All other absences are automatically unexcused. Excessive tardiness (more than three) will also be counted as unexcused absences. This policy applies to both lecture and lab. If you have more than 6 unexcused absences you may receive a letter grade deduction from your final grade.
Schreiner University is compliant with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 with respect to providing academic adjustments/auxiliary aids to qualified students. Students requiring such accommodations should contact the Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Jude Gallik.
EVALUATION: 50% of your final grade will result from the mean (average) of three exams (four will be given, one of the first three may be dropped). The final exam contains a comprehensive component. 10% will result from your book report. Books to be read are general interest behavior books as approved by the instructor. The book report is due on Thursday, April 1st. Descriptions of behaviors will comprise another 10% of your grade. There should be at least 20 detailed descriptions, each worth 5 points. Additional descriptions will be graded for half credit, up to a maximum of 100 points. Each entry must include the date and time, the animal name, the habitat and geographic location, and a description of what the animal was doing. The behavioral description is the focus and should be as detailed as possible. Behavior descriptions are due Thursday, April 15th. 10% of your final grade will be derived from the average of several write-ups of laboratory activities. Another 10% will be derived from your term paper. .Research papers will concern the behavioral repertoire of an animal (such as all behaviors of sea turtles), or a comparative discussion of one type of behavior across a group of animals (such as chemical communication in wasps). Term papers should be 10-20 pages and have 10 or more properly referenced primary literature (i.e., original work) citations. Your topic is due, in writing, Thursday, February 19th, accompanied by three primary reference citations. Completed term papers are due Thursday, March 25th. The final 10% will be derived from the laboratory independent project. This is an experiment you design and conduct yourself or in cooperation with a partner. The research proposal must be approved by the instructor. The research must be experimental in nature, not just observational, i.e., you must manipulate a variable. Although you may work with a partner, the write-up of the results must be your own. The independent project write-up is due Thursday, April 22nd. It is expected that final course averages of 90-100 will equal a final grade of A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; and less than 59 = F.
TEXT: Animal Behavior 6th ed., 1998. Drickamer, Vessey, Jakob. McGraw-Hill., Publishers.
LECTURE CALENDAR:
Jan 8 Introduction, Ch 1
13 History, Ch 2
15 Mechanisms, Ch 3,4,5
20 Evolution, Ch 6
22 Rhythms in Behavior, Ch 9
27 Resting and Hibernation, Ch. 9
29 Comfort
Feb 3 Defecation, Urination, Marking
5 Film—Land of the Tiger
10 LECTURE EXAM I (Intro-Defecation)
12 Learning, Ch 11
17 Communication, Ch 12
19 Communication
24 Discrimination and Orientation, Ch 7
26 Migration, Ch 13
Mar 2 Echolocation
4 Film—Sharks
9-11 SPRING BREAK
16 Feeding and Drinking Ch 15
18 Predator-Prey Relations, Ch 15
23 LECTURE EXAM II (Learning-Echolocation)
25 Territoriality, Ch 16
30 Aggression, Ch 16
Apr 1 Film—Ourselves and Other Animals
6 Courtship and Mating, Ch 17,18
8 Courtship and Mating
13 Film—Whence Turtles Come
15 LECTURE EXAM III (Feeding and Drinking-Courtship and Mating)
20 Social Groupings, Ch 19
22 Social Groupings
27 Social Behavior in Humans, Ch 19
29 Film—Among the Wild Chimpanzees
FINAL EXAM TUESDAY MAY 4, 10:30-12:30
LAB CALENDAR
Jan 14 Senses testing No write-up
21 How to make observations No write-up
28 Local field trip (Horses—Dr. Sullivan’s place) No write-up
Feb 4 Learning in mazes* Write-up due Feb 24
11 Learning, continued*
18 Orientation in chemical environments Write-up due Mar 2
25 Territoriality with Kribensis fish* Write-up due Mar 17
Mar 3 No lab-TAS meeting
10 Spring Break
17 Aggression with Siamese Fighting fish No write-up
24 Dominance hierarchies with crayfish* No write-up
31 Crowding with Zebra Danios* Write-up due April 20
Apr 7 No lab-optional trip to San Antonio Zoo* (SATURDAY, April 3)
14 Individual projects*
21 Individual projects*
28 No lab
*Lab does not meet at regularly scheduled time, schedule lab time independently