Academic Teaching
BIOL 4303 Animal Behaviour
This course introduces students to the field of science that investigates the underlying mechanisms and functions of animal behaviour; the ways in which animals interact with each other, with their physical environment and other organisms; how animals find and defend resources, avoid predators, choose mates, reproduce, and care for their young; how complex animal societies are formed and how behaviour of an individual affects the structure of a population.
The course is given in a series of 2-hour lectures and interactive classroom sessions, as follows:
Class
Topics
1
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Introduction and brief historic perspective
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Basic survival strategies
2
-
Behaviour: Ultimate and proximate perspectives
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Evolution of behaviour
3
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Behavioural flexibility and adaptability
4
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The economics of optimal behaviour
Site visit: Location and topics vary between years
5
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Individual, genes, and social behaviour
6
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Ecology of group living
-
Socia-cognative behaviour
7
8
9
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Sexual selection
-
Cooperation, reciprocity, empathy, and evolutionary game theory
-
Student Talks: Insect societies
10
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Socio-behavioural complexity - Part 1
11
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Socio-behavioural complexity - Part 2
12
-
Students Talks: Topic of student's choice
13
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The scale of complexity: Cultural transmission
14
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Classroom Debates: Topics of student's choice
15
-
Comparative socio-ecology
16
-
Animal behaviour, behavioural ecology and biodiversity conservation
Animal Behaviour Field Course | Marine Mammal Field Course |
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Marine Mammal Classroom Course | Animal Behaviour Classroom Course |
Students' Corner |
(To select courses, click on the animals below)
CETACEAN ECOLOGY LAB
The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong