Animal Behaviour

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OB2_W09

OB2_W12

OB2_U01

OB2_U09

Animal behaviour is one of the biological disciplines that have been developing intensively over the last decade. Researchers focus on many issues including hunting, reproduction, or altruistic behaviour.

The aim of the course is:

1) to acquaint students with the complexities of animal behaviour

2) to explain how animal behaviour affect the ability of survival of the animals

3) to show the possibilities of using knowledge about animal behaviour in nature conservation

During the classes students will observe the behaviour of selected invertebrate species

Undoubtedly, the course on animal behaviour will inspire students to have a humanitarian approach to animals.

Key: animal, behaviour, survival

1. Animal behaviour: introduction

2.Social behaviour: social insects, altruism in social insects, altruism in vertebrates

3.How animals communicate with each other?

4.How to avoid a predator and find food?

5.How to find the optimal habitat? What are the benefits of territoriality? Why do animals migrate?

6.Animal behavioral adaptations to life in extreme environments

7.How do parasites affect the behavior of animals?

8.Biological clock and animal behaviour

9.Reproductive behaviour: sexual selection, mating system

10.Parental care: Parental care in invertebrates, parental care in vertebrates, relation: parent-offspring, sibling competition, brood parasitism

11.Neural and hormonal control of the animal behaviour

12.Human behaviour

13.New aspects of animal behaviour: Bahaviorists vs. Ethologists, the idea of “Umwelt”

14.How the animals learn?

15. Presentation of the given subject

John Alcock 2013 Animal Behavior – an evolutionary approach. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers, Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA. 522 pp.

Nick J. Royle, Per T. Smiseth, Mathias Kölliker 2012 The evolution of parental care. Oxford University Press. 356 pp.

In addition, resent publications on the issue in question

Basic knowledge of biology

After the course students will be able to:

1) plan and conduct research

2) analyze the results

3) discuss the results with the literature

4) presents the research