2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
BLGY3135 Advanced Topics in Behaviour: from sex to death
20 creditsClass Size: 160
Module manager: Professor Alison Dunn
Email: a.dunn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Pre-requisites
| BLGY2220 | Evolution, Adaptation and Behaviour |
| BLGY2304 | Research and Study Skills Level 2 |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
Students will study how the behaviour of animals is adapted to their natural environment. The course will focus on animal behaviour from sex to death, covering topics such as: sexual selection, sperm competition, parental care and cannibalism. They will also explore how parasites from malaria to cuckoos can manipulate the behaviour of their hosts. On completion of this module, students should be able to develop a critical understanding of current theories and empirical examples in Behavioural Ecology.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, and behaviour and parasite-host conflict;
- Examine critically a range of empirical and theoretical evidence for these hypotheses.
Skills outcomes
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 and through their analysis and write up develop 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 (practical report in the style of a scientific paper).
Syllabus
Outline content;
- Sexual selection;
- Sperm competition;
- Sex allocation;
- Parental care;
- Social learning;
- - 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 and through their analysis and write up develop 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 (practical report in the style of a scientific paper).
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 21 | 1.00 | 21.00 |
| Practical | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Private study hours | 176.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
15 hours reading around and preparing for the practical class;35 hours analysing and writing the individual practical report;
126 hours independent study time reading references provided during the lecture and exploring additional reading.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
course work : an individual report on the practical exercise .will be used to monitor student progress Students will receive feedback on this work.The practical 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 at which the students can o discuss their work.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Practical Report | Practical design, execution and report. (2000 words) | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 30.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 24 hr | 70.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 70.00 | |
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 websiteLast updated: 01/05/2024
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