2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BLGY3135 Advanced Topics in Behaviour: from sex to death

20 creditsClass Size: 160

Module manager: Dr Alison Dunn
Email: a.dunn@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Pre-requisites

BLGY2192	Experimental Design and Analysis
BLGY2222	Animal Behaviour

Module replaces

BLGY3214: Behavioural Ecology &BLGY3123: Bats: from Evolution to Conservation

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be ableto develop a critical understanding of current theories and empirical examples in Behaviour. Students will study how the behaviour of animals is adapted to their natural environment. By taking a behavioural ecology approach, the module integrates thinking about behaviour, ecology and evolution to understand how an animal’s behaviour is adapted. The course will focus on animal behaviour from sex to death, covering topics that may include: sexual selection, sperm competition, social learning, sex allocation, parental care, cooperative breeding and senescence. They will also explore how an animal’s behaviour is manipulated by its parasites.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate how an animal's behaviour is adapted to the environment in which it lives;
- Explain the key concepts in animal behaviour which may include sexual selection, parental care, social learning, senescence and parasite-host conflict;
- Examine critically a range of empirical and theoretical evidence for these hypotheses.

Syllabus

Outline content;
- Sexual selection;
- Sperm competition;
- Sex allocation;
- Parental care;
- Cooperative breeding;
- Social learning;
- Senescence;
- Parasite manipulation of behaviour;
- A range of systems will be considered from invertebrates to vertebrates including humans.

The students develop skills in;
- Research; the process by which the key hypotheses are tested and refined is considered as we discuss the examples in the lectures. During the practical the students develop their own research questions. The presentation exercise develops skills in critical thinking and analysis.
- Experimental design during the practical class students design the practical, developing and testing a set of hypotheses arising from the lectures and reading material.
- Data presentation and analysis; in the practical data are collected and analysed and interpreted in the context of the field.
- Ethics; A discussion takes place concerning the ethics of the experimental design.
- Presentation skills (verbal, exam essay, research paper);
- Producing a scientific research manuscript.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	21	1.00	21.00
Practical	1	3.00	3.00
Seminar	2	3.00	6.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

10 hours reading around and preparing for the practical class during which they will design the experimental approach;
20 hours analysing and writing the individual practical report;
30 hours reading and preparing group presentation;
110 hours independent study time per lecture.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Two pieces of course work will be used to monitor student progress: an individual report on the practical lab, and a group presentation. Students will also receive feedback on these pieces of work.

The lab session involves experimental design and the write up involves analysis and interpretation of the data as well as a formal write up. Students will receive generic feedback on their practical report via the VLE and individual comments on the script. There will be a feedback session which the students may attend to discuss their work.

Students will receive feedback from staff on their presentations, and will also receive peer feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Oral Presentation	Group literature research and presentation	20.00
Practical Report	2,000 word report on Lab session written as a research paper, includes analysis and critical interpretation.	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		40.00

August resit not available for presentation (involving group work) or practical work which uses class data. An alternative assessment will be set.

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1)	2 hr 00 mins	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/09/2017

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD