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ZO3813: PRACTICAL SKILLS IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR (2022-2023)

Last modified: 27 Oct 2022 11:00


Course Overview

Weekly practical activities will provide opportunities to observe animals and develop an understanding of the adaptive value of animal behaviour.

Tasks involving the design of simple experiments to address cause and function of animal behaviour will develop skills in experimental design and hypothesis testing.

Training in the use of a lab/field notebook allows students to demonstrate competence in record keeping.
Written report and oral presentation on a practical-based experiment supports the develop of communication skills.

Short weekly lectures will reinforce concepts, outline expectations and provide a framework for the practical work in the field or in the lab.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Vasilis Louca
  • Dr David Fisher

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4
  • One of Biology (BI) or Ecology (EK) or Environmental Sciences (EV) or Forestry (FY) or Plant Science (PL) or Zoology (ZO)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The overall aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the adaptive value of animal behaviour and how it can be analysed. The course is framed around day trips around Aberdeen to observe wildlife, as well as practical tasks based on animals maintained in captivity. Students will design simple experiments on animals across a wide variety of taxa, ranging from large mammals and birds to invertebrates, to address cause and function of animal behaviour.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Group short reports

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

4 group short reports worth 10% each

Informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseEvaluate and analyse field and lab data
ProceduralApplyDevelop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals
ProceduralEvaluateUnderstand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology
ReflectionAnalyseTo develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks.
ReflectionCreateLearn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology

Individual project report

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseEvaluate and analyse field and lab data
ProceduralAnalyseTo understand the fundamentals of experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis and conduct simple behavioural experiments both in the field and laboratory
ProceduralApplyDevelop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals
ProceduralEvaluateUnderstand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology
ReflectionAnalyseTo develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks.
ReflectionCreateLearn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment

Field and lab notebook

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Individual written feedback on the notebook; informal, formative feedback throughout the course. Verbal feedback to group and individualised written feedback.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyDevelop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals
ReflectionAnalyseTo develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks.
ReflectionCreateLearn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed elements

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Students will repeat whichever elements of the assessment were failed or not completed at first sitting; the marks for elements already passed will be carried forwards.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseEvaluate and analyse field and lab data
ReflectionEvaluateDevelop an understanding on how behaviour is adapted to the physical and social environment
ProceduralAnalyseTo understand the fundamentals of experimental design, hypothesis testing and data analysis and conduct simple behavioural experiments both in the field and laboratory
ReflectionAnalyseTo develop skills in effective communication, including written reports and field/lab notebooks.
ReflectionCreateLearn to plan and conduct field and laboratory work in the context of behavioural ecology
ProceduralEvaluateUnderstand and apply key concepts in behavioural ecology
ProceduralApplyDevelop observational skills to accurately record behaviours of a diverse range of animals

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