| NBID07 | Applied Ethology, 15 ECTS credits. /Tillämpad etologi/ |
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Area of Education: Science Subject area: Biology |
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| Advancement level
(A-D): D
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| Aim: Behaviour is the primary means by which an animal interacts with and adapts to its physical and social environment. The behaviour may be shaped by both evolutionary and ontogenetic processes and therefore has a close connection to genetics and physiology. Behaviour is caused by physiological processes and in turn affects and adjusts physiological variables. Understanding the biology of behaviour is therefore an important basis for deeper insights into the adaptive capacities and the needs of animals. The course goal is to give the students basic insights into the following aspects of animal behaviour: (i) Mechanisms; (ii) Function; (iii) Phylogeny; (iv) Ontogeny. Ethology is also an important tool for estimation of animal welfare in different environments, and students will therefore learn how animals are utilised and kept in agriculture, laboratories and zoos. Increasing the knowledge about methods and techniques for using animal behaviour as welfare indicators will be an important part of the course. The students should also obtain basic knowledge about the relation between animal behaviour and threats to wild populations and the relation of behaviour to conservation biology. This will be taught in close cooperation with Kolmården. |
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| Prerequisites: (valid for students admitted to programmes within which the course is offered) Enrolment in the MSc programme in Applied Biology Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission requirements for the programme and threshhold requirements for progression within the programme, or corresponding. |
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| Organisation: The course will contain a mix of lectures, literature studies in groups, practical exercises, and own theoretical work. Part of the course will be located at Kolmården. Study visits are included. The course contains the following parts: (i) Lectures. (ii) Literature seminars, in which the students work through the course literature and provide written summaries. (iii) Practical exercises. These will consist of behavioural recording and analyses, both in experimental setup at the university, and at Kolmården. (iv) Writing of two essays: One on species-specific behaviour, and one on a problem-oriented subject. (v) Study visits to farms, animal laboratories, and zoos. |
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| Course contents: The physiological and genetical mechanisms of behaviour. The function of different behavioural strategies and ecological adaptation of behaviour. Phylogenetic development of behaviour. Ontogenetical development of behaviour and different learning processes. The application of behaviour to different aspects of animal utilisation. Assessment of animal welfare by means of behaviour. Species-specific behaviour in common species, particularly those utilised by man. Housing conditions and their ethological implications for animals in agriculture, laboratories and zoos. Animal behaviour and conservation biology. Ethological methods. |
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| Course literature: McFarland, D. (1999, 3rd ed). Animal Behaviour. Longman. Research articles and other primary literature. |
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| Examination: | |||
| Written examination Approved reports from practical exercises Two approved essays Participating study visits |
5 p 2 p 2 p 1 p |
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Course language is English. Department offering the course: IFM. Director of Studies: Examiner: Per Jensen (perje@ifm.liu.se) Course Syllabus in Swedish |
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