BIO 223 - Animal Behavior (=PSY 323)

One can explore animal behavior on multiple levels of analysis: ontogenetic (the developmental origins of behavior), phylogenetic (the evolutionary origins of behavior), proximate (the physiology and neurophysiology of behavior), and functional (the fitness consequences of behavior).  In Biology 223, we will touch on all of these facets of behavior, but we will focus on functionality - the adaptive significance of behaviors.

*For Fall 2020, I will be teaching BIO 233 (Behavioral Ecology) and BIO 223 (Animal Behavior) simultaneously.  In other words, students in both courses will Zoom together for lecture.  Animal Behavior students will meet for lab each week; Behavioral Ecology students will not.  Consequently, Animal Behavior counts as a Group B course for the Biology major; Behavioral Ecology does not.  There is no text book for Animal Behavior, but we will read and discuss (in lab) two paperback books in this class.

Because of the difficulty of social distancing in the lab, reading and discussing papers from the primary literature will be the focus of lab.

Major topics in this course include: foraging behavior, anti-predator behavior, territorial behavior, conflict, sexual selection, mating systems, parental care, and social behavior.

Prerequisites & Notes
Successful completion of BIO 112/114 or permission of instructor is required.  One laboratory meeting per week.  Satisfies Group B. Counts towards the Psychology major as a Research Methods course in the Cognitive/Neuroscience column.  Not open to students with credit for BIO 233.

*See note above regarding Fall 2020