Animal Behavior   BI 304, 304L

Meeting Times and Locations

Lecture            Mon, Wed                   11:20-12:50                 Campus Hall 217

Recitation        Tues                             1:00-2:00                     Megerle 320

Lab                  Tues                             2:00-4:00                     Megerle 407

Instructor

Dr. Brian Palestis

Megerle Science Bldg 413

718-390-3237

bpalesti@wagner.edu

www.wagner.edu/faculty/bpalesti/

Office Hours:  Wed 10-11, Thurs 2-4

Course Description

This course will examine the principles of animal behavior from several perspectives, such as classical ethology, behavioral ecology and sociobiology, comparative psychology, behavior genetics, behavioral endocrinology, and neuroethology. As this list indicates, the study of animal behavior integrates across several disciplines and levels of analysis. Students will have the opportunity to observe behavior through video clips, laboratory exercises, a field trip, and independent research projects. The recitation portion of the course will include discussion of papers.

Learning goals addressed are: 1) Competency in scientific reasoning and quantitative analysis, which promotes critical thinking and constructive problem solving. 2) An appreciation of and access to different modes of inquiry that will lead to a continued search for truth, knowledge, and understanding. 3) Competency in “learning by doing”, where students learn to integrate ideas and field-based experiences and reflect their insights in writing and discussion. 4) Knowledge and skills in a chosen field of study, which provides both the proficiency and flexibility to achieve future goals. 5) Skills of listening, writing, and speech that enable effective communication and self-expression.

Textbook

Goodenough, J., B. McGuire, and E. Jakob. 2010. Perspectives on Animal Behavior. 3^rd

            ed. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken. (+ Excerpts from the 2^nd ed.)

There is no laboratory manual. Handouts will be distributed with information for labs.

Grading

Midterm Exam                                    20%                

Final Exam                                          25%

Laboratory exercises                           20%

Research project                                  15%

Class participation                               15%

Paper summaries                                 5%

Before class discussions each student must write a one to two paragraph summary of the assigned article. The summaries will not be graded formally, but will show me that the paper was read.

For the research project, students will conduct an experimental or observational study and write up their results in standard scientific paper format (Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Literature Cited). Students may work in pairs for the research projects. Animals that could be studied include common urban animals, lab animals, zoo animals, pets, or even humans. All projects must be approved by me before you begin, and I will suggest ideas for possible topics. Time will be set aside in the second half of the semester for students to work on projects, but you are encouraged to work outside of lab hours and to begin early.

Attendance is required. You are expected to be an active participant in all class discussions and lab exercises (i.e. attendance alone is not sufficient).

Make-up exams will only be given with a doctor’s note or a letter from Academic Advisement.

Incompletes require completion of at least 70% of the work at a passing level.

Wagner College Honor Code: As a member of the Wagner College Community, you are expected to adhere to the terms of the Wagner College Honor Code.  The Honor Code was created and passed by the Student Government Association (SGA) in the spring semester of 2007.  Its institution benefits the college in a number of ways including an increased level of trust between students and faculty, the fostering of an environment where we hold each other accountable both inside and outside the classroom, and ultimately, an increase in the value of a Wagner College degree.

A copy of the Wagner College Honor Code can be found in your Student Handbook as well as on the SGA Web Page.  It is your responsibility to be aware of and follow the terms of the Honor Code.   You will also be expected to sign the Honesty Statement and attach it to every test and paper handed in for this class.  If you have any questions regarding the Honor Code, please feel free to contact a member of SGA either by phone (718.390.3276) or by email (sga@wagner.edu).

Course Schedule

Week 1 (8/30-9/3)                                                                               Book Chapters/Pages              Tinbergen’s Four Questions                                                             pp 1-2, 146-147

            Approaches to the Study of Behavior                                                     Chpt 2  + pp 72-74

            Lab 1 Inferring behavior from fossils

Week 2 (9/6-9/10)

            No class Mon 9/6 (Labor Day)

            Evolution of Behavior                                                                                    pp 57-60

            Fixed Action Patterns                                                                         pp 15-17 + pdf           

            Lab 2 Methodology for field observations Staten Island Zoo

Week 3 (9/13-9/17)                            

            Nervous System                                         pp 101-104, 122-125, 118-119, 172-174

            The Senses                                                      pp 356-366, 107-108, 111-113 + pdf

Discussion 1 “Instinctive” behavior

Lab 3  Nervous system

Week 4 (9/20-9/24)                                                                            

            Communication                                                                                   Chpt 16-17

            Hormones & Behavior                                               pp 127-130, 137-142, 155-156

            Discussion 2 Chemical communication in humans    

Lab 4 The senses 

Week 5 (9/27-10/1)                                                    

            Behavior Genetics                                                                               pp 31-37

            Development of Behavior                                           pp 151-152, 158-166 + pdf

Discussion 3 Neuroendocrinology of monogamy     

Lab 5  Videos “Signals for Survival” and “Animal Einsteins”

Week 6 (10/4-10/8)

             Learning and Cognition                                                         Chpt 5 + pp 174-180

            Discussion 4 Behavior genetics of domestication     

Lab 6 Habituation & sensory adaptation (earthworms, humans)

Week 7 (10/11-10/15)

            No class Mon-Tues 10/11-12 (Fall Break)

            Biological Clocks                                                                                pp 185-194

Week 8 (10/18-10/22)

Midterm Exam Monday 10/18        

            Orientation & Homing                                                                        Chpt 10 + pdf

Discussion 5 Behavior of laboratory rodents

Lab 7 Kineses and taxes (sowbugs, Planaria, Drosophila)

Week 9 (10/25-10/29)

            Habitat Selection & Dispersal                                                 Chpt 11 + pp 415-416

            Foraging                                                                                  Chpt 12 + pp 75-76    

            Discussion 6 Migration, brood parasitism & speciation        

Independent projects           

Week 10 (11/1-11/5)

            Antipredator Behavior                                                            Chpt 13 + pp 66-67

            Sexual Selection                                                                                  Chpt 14          

Discussion 7 Predation and antipredator behavior

            Independent projects

Week 11 (11/8-11/12)

            Sexual Selection (cont.)

            Parental Care                                                                                       Chpt 15          

Discussion 8 Human sexual selection

            Independent projects

Week 12 (11/15-11/19)

            Mating Systems                                                                                  Chpt 15

Agonistic Behavior & Territoriality                                        Chpt 18 + pp 68-69

            Discussion 9 Cryptic female choice

            Independent projects

Week 13 (11/22-11/26)

            No class Wed-Fri 11/24-11/26 (Thanksgiving)

            Group Living                                                                         pp 423-427, 298-302                Discussion 10 Animal “personalities”

            Lab 8 Dominance hierarchies (crickets)

Week 14 (11/29-12/3)

            Altruism & Cooperation                                                                     Chpt 19          

            Discussion 11 Collective behavior    

Lab 9 Schooling behavior & species recognition (tetras, zebra fish)

Week 15 (12/6)

            Last day of classes, Independent projects due Monday 12/6

Final exam Wednesday 12/15, 11:20-2:20