BS113-4-AU-CO:
Animal Behaviour and Ecology
2015/16
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
15
08 March 2007
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C100 Biological Sciences,
BSC C101 Biological Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C102 Biological Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC C164 Marine Biology,
BSC CC60 Marine Biology (Including Year Abroad)
We will discover the diversity of animal forms and functions and the role of natural selection in determining individual behaviour such as foraging, breeding and predator escape. We will explore how variation in the behaviour of interacting individuals leads to population level ecological dynamics. Every population scale interaction that we witness in nature, competition between native and invasive species or responses of mobile insects to climate change for example, is underpinned by evolution of behaviour (e.g. timing of migration) and physiology (e.g. investment in growth vs reproduction). It is this realisation, that nothing in ecology and evolution makes sense except in light of each other, which forms the "newest synthesis" that we shall explore together in this module.
Learning Outcomes
To pass this module, students will need to be able to:
Describe:
1. The diversity of animal life and natural selection;
2. Populations and animal population interactions;
Explain:
3. The basis of ecology and its relevance to finding solutions to environmental problems;
4. How animal behaviour and biotic interactions influence populations;
5. Fundamental ecological concepts underpinning animal population growth, life histories and demography;
Demonstrate:
6. Knowledge of the tight coupling between ecology, behaviour and evolution;
7. Knowledge of applied animal population ecology case studies;
8. Skills in collecting, presenting analysing and interpreting biological data.
No information available.
No information available.
Exam Assessment: End of module MCQ Exam and 1 hour exam paper in Summer Term; both equally weighted
Lectures: 24 x 1 hr; revision 2 x 1 hr including 1 on directed learning material plus 1 revision class before MCQ and 1 revision class before summer exam; Practicals: 4 x 3-4 hrs.
Please see Module documentation on Moodle for further details.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Worksheet 1 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Worksheet 2 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Worksheet 3 |
|
|
| Coursework |
Worksheet 4 |
|
|
| Exam |
Main exam: 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Additional coursework information
MCQ Exam: wk 15, Summer Exam: wks 33-36
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Alex Dumbrell, Dr Tom Cameron, Dr Jordi Paps, Dr Antonio Marco
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.