Course code ZOOL250

ZOOL250 Behavioural Ecology

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Showing course contents for the educational year 2014 - 2015 .

Course responsible: Geir Andreas Sonerud
Teachers: Svein Dale
ECTS credits: 10
Faculty: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management
Teaching language: NO
(NO=norsk, EN=Engelsk)
Limits of class size:
-
Teaching exam periods:
This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel, .
Course frequency: Annually
First time: Study year 2004-2005
Preferential right:
-
Course contents:
The content of the course is given by the textbook, because the lectures follow the textbook, with two hours lecturing per chapter in the textbook. The students are divided into no more than six groups, and each group is given a list of questions and a room to work in. The students are expected to work on these questions during the 16 hours set aside for this group activity. A teacher visits each group several times for supervising. Each group is expected to hand in a written answer to a predetermined selection of the questions. The answers are evaluated by the teacher, and must be passed in order to be approved.
Learning outcome:

A candidate with fulfilled qualifications should have the following learning outcome:

Knowledge:

The student should have knowledge about animal behaviour as an adaptation to the environment.

Skills:

On completion of the course, the student should be able to explain evolutionary mechanisms behind behavioural strategies of animals. The student should also to be able to formulate hypotheses explaining behavioural patterns in an evolutionary perspective, make predictions from these hypotheses, and thereby outline how these hypotheses may be tested.

General competense:

The student should be well aquaited with evolutionary thinking in explaining animal behaviour.

Learning activities:
Learning results are to be achieved in this way: i) The professional content of the course is presented to the students through lectures. ii) The students are trained in formulating the professional content of the course through compulsory group work on predetermined questions set by the teacher.
Teaching support:
The student´s learning is supported through academic supervision in the hours set aside forgroup exercises, and in the teacher´s office hours.
Syllabus:
Davies, N. B., Krebs, J. R. - West, S. A. 2012. An introduction to behavioural ecology. 4th edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
Prerequisites:
ZOOL100 and ECOL100.
Recommended prerequisites:
ZOOL210.
Mandatory activity:
Submission of exercises in discussion groups. The exercise is evaluated by the teachers, and must be passed in order to be approved.
Assessment:
The exam consists of a written test (3 hrs) that counts 100% of the final grade.
Nominal workload:
Structured work: 40 hours. Preparation for discussion groups and exams: approx. 260 hours.
Entrance requirements:
Special requirements in Science
Type of course:
Lectures: 24 hours. Exercises in discussion groups: 16 hours.
Note:
The course can be taken at several other learning institutions in Norway, and at a number of learning institutions abroad.
Examiner:
An external sensor grades the written answers from the exam in knowledge and understanding.
Examination details: One written exam: A - E / Ikke bestått