Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Identical coursesBehavioural Ecology (B-KUL-G0G32A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Stoks Robby (coordinator) | Stoks Robby | Wenseleers Tom | N. | Decru Eva (substitute) Aims
During this course a student acquires a thorough knowledge of topical research in behavioural ecology and ethology thereby building on related disciplines such as ecology, genetics and physiology. The student is able to understand recent research papers in the field of behavioural ecology and based on this can develop a research project around a given hypothesis. The student has the expertise to plan, execute, analyze and critically interpret a behavioural experiment in an international research team, thereby takes a responsible role and is able to solve problems associated with the research project. He can orally communicate in English a critical summary of the group's findings to other researchers.
Previous knowledge
Basic knowledge of ecology and evolutionary biology.
Order of Enrolment
This course unit is a prerequisite for taking the following course units:
G0W35A : Behavioural and Advanced Ecology: Field Course
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
4.4 ects. Behavioural Ecology: Lectures (B-KUL-G0G33a)
Content
An Evolutionary Approach to Animal Behavior
Understanding the Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Bird Song
The Development of Behavior
The Control of Behavior: Neural Mechanisms
The Organization of Behavior: Neurons and Hormones
Behavioral Adaptations for Survival
The Evolution of Feeding Behavior
Choosing Where to Live
The Evolution of Communication
The Evolution of Reproductive Behavior
The Evolution of Mating Systems
The Evolution of Parental Care
The Evolution of Social Behavior
The Evolution of Human Behavior
Course material
Text book 'Animal behavior' by John Alcock (available via Scientica).
Powerpoint slides lectures (available via Toledo).
1.6 ects. Behavioural Ecology, Exercise Session, Laboratory Exercise (B-KUL-G0G34a)
EnglishFormat: Practical
26 
Second termStoks Robby | Wenseleers Tom | N. | Decru Eva (substitute) Content
Exercises
- Discussion of topical research and selected papers related to the content of the lectures
- Formulating hypotheses, designing and executing experiment to test specific hypothesis related to key topics in behavioural ecology.
- Analyzing and interpreting the results of the experiment in light of the hypothesis tested and presenting this to other students.
Course material
Selected research papers (made available via Toledo).
Format: more information
Article discussions and design experiment.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Behavioural Ecology (B-KUL-G2G32a)
Explanation
The theoretical exam consists of two written parts (one per lecturer). Each part counts for 40% of the total exam score and the practicals count for 20% of the total score.
A student passes when the weighted final score (theoretical exam 80%, practicals 20%) is at least 10/20. When a student did not participate in all parts of the practicals he cannot take the theoretical exam and cannot pass the course (NA).
Information about retaking exams
There is no possibility to redo the practicals within the same academic year.