Animal Behaviuor

1. Explain the historical background and key concepts of ethology.
2. Describe different types of animal communication and their functions.
3. Analyze social behaviors in various animal species.
4. Discuss the factors influencing habitat selection and navigation.
5. Explain the role of biological clocks in animal physiology and behavior.

13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1 History of Ethology

   • Unit 1 Historical Background of Ethology · 2 hours

     Read the introduction to ethology and its historical context.. Define ethology and explain Tinbergen's four questions.. Discuss examples of emotions and communication in animals..

2. Week 2Module 1 History of Ethology

   • Unit 2 Reflex and Complex bahaviour · 2 hours

     Understand the central and peripheral nervous systems.. Explain reflex actions and the concept of identified neurons.. Describe the neural precursors in sponges and nervous systems in radiate and bilateria..

3. Week 3Module 1 History of Ethology

   • Unit 3 Orientation in Animals · 2 hours

     Define orientation in animals and its different forms.. Discuss kinesis and taxis as forms of locomotor behavior.. Explain how birds use celestial bearings for orientation..

4. Week 4Module 1 History of Ethology

   • Unit 4 Taxes in Animals · 2 hours

     Define taxes and provide examples such as aerotaxis and chemotaxis.. Explain phototaxis, thermotaxis, and geotaxis.. Discuss rheotaxis, magnetotaxis, phonotaxis, and galvanotaxis..

5. Week 5Module 1 History of Ethology

   • Unit 5 Fixed action Pattern, Motivation and Drive · 2 hours

     Explain fixed action patterns (FAP) and their significance.. Discuss motivation and drives in animal behavior.. Describe Lorenz's psychohydraulic model and Deutsch's model..

6. Week 6Module 2 Learning, Communication and Social Bahvaiour

   • Unit 1 Display, Displacement Behaviour and Conflict Behaviour · 2 hours

     Explain display and displacement behavior in animals.. Discuss types of conflict behavior.. Provide examples of displacement activities in dogs and cats..

7. Week 7Module 2 Learning, Communication and Social Bahvaiour

   • Unit 2 Learning and Communication in Animal · 2 hours

     Understand different types of learning behavior, including habituation and classical conditioning.. Explain instrumental and latent learning.. Define communication and discuss visual, acoustic, tactile, and chemical communication..

8. Week 8Module 2 Learning, Communication and Social Bahvaiour

   • Unit 3 Social Behaviour · 2 hours

     Understand social behavior and its importance in animal survival.. Discuss altruism, kin selection, dominance hierarchies, and agnostic behavior.. Explain the concept of territory..

9. Week 9Module 2 Learning, Communication and Social Bahvaiour

   • Unit 4 Social Behaviour of Primates · 2 hours

     Understand social structure compositions among primates.. Discuss single female and offspring groups, monogamous family groups, and polyandrous family groups.. Explain one-male-several-female groups and multimale-multifemale groups..

10. Week 10Module 2 Learning, Communication and Social Bahvaiour

    • Unit 5 Hierarchical Organisation · 2 hours

      Explain dominance hierarchies and their establishment.. Discuss dominance and mate competition.. Describe dominant and submissive displays and hierarchical behavior in spotted hyenas and wolves..

11. Week 11Module 3 Habitat Selection, Homing and Navigation and Courtship Behaviour

    • Unit 1 Physiology of Behaviour · 2 hours

      Explain the physiology of animal behavior and the four approaches to studying it.. Discuss proximate and ultimate causes of behavior.. Define anthropomorphism and its limitations..

12. Week 12Module 3 Habitat Selection, Homing and Navigation and Courtship Behaviour

    • Unit 2 Habitat Selection · 2 hours

      Define habitat and habitat selection.. Discuss different types of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and arctic tundra.. Explain habitat selection by specific animals like African elephants and penguins..

    • Unit 3 Homing and Navigation in Birds · 2 hours

      Define homing and navigation.. Explain factors affecting the initiation of navigation and migration.. Discuss orientation and navigation methods in animals, including the use of the sun, landmarks, and magnetic fields..

13. Week 13Module 3 Habitat Selection, Homing and Navigation and Courtship Behaviour

    • Unit 4 Courtship bahviour and Parenthood · 2 hours

      Explain courtship behavior and parenthood.. Discuss courtship rituals in insects, birds, amphibians, and humans.. Describe mating behaviors in dogs, raccoons, chickens, desert tortoises, and wood turtles..

    • Unit 5 Biological Clocks · 2 hours

      Explain biological clocks and their mechanisms.. Discuss circadian clocks and their importance in photoperiod time measurement.. Differentiate between exogenous and endogenous rhythms..