COURSE NAME: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

COURSE CODE: ZOL-510

CREDIT HOURS: 3 (2+1)

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Amber Gul

DEPARTMENT: ZOOLOGY

OBJECTIVES:

1.  Impart knowledge about animal responses to external stimuli.

2. Emphasize different kinds of behaviours, classical and modern concepts.

3. Explain through examples development, evolution and occurrence of behaviour.

4. Understand bthe genetic and neurophysiological basis of behaviour.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of of this course, students should be capable of:

1. Understanding and identify behaviors in animals.
2. Discussing the evolutionary origins of various behaviors.
3. Describing the main philosophical frameworks used in animal ethics.
4. Describing the meaning of sentience, and the evidence for varying levels of cognition in animals.

INTRODUCTION:

Behaviour is recognised as one of the most important functions of animal life. The study of the behaviour of animals is the final objective of all other branches of biology. Some of the elementary actions of the animals to avoid predators, to gather food, to reproduce etc., depend on an extraordinary complex and beautiful synchronized mecha­nism of nerve cells, glands and muscles, along with a supporting skeleton.

TIME TABLE:

COURSE EVALUATION:

Mids: 30 marks

Practical: 15 marks

Final: 45marks

Sessional: 10 marks (attendance and presentations of students)

COURSE CONTENTS:

1. Foundations of animal behavior: ethology, classical ethology
2. Development of behavior: innate mechanisms, imprinting
3. Kinds of behavior: innate, conditioned, complex behavior patterns, habituation.
4. Mechanisms of behavior: Nervous system and behavior, hormones and behavior,
5. Social behavior: agonistic, altruistic, kinship, mating, ritualization, dominance, territoriality
6. Biological rhythms: circadian clocks, clock genes, etc.
7. Social organization: conflict, sexual behavior, reproduction and fitness, parental care, social system.
8. Animal Communication: chemical attraction, in moths, honey bees, communication displays, pheromones, etc.

Recommended books

1. Dugatkin, L. A. 2012. Principles of Animal Behavior. W.W. Norton and Co. New York.
2. Scott, G. 2005.Essential Animal Behavior. Blackwell Pub. New York.
3. Goodenough,J., McGuire, B., Wallace, R.A. 2001. Perspective on Animla behavior. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

PRACTICALS:

1.  Locomotory behavior of small animals, earthworms, garden snails, etc.
2. Ear pinna reflex responses in domestic cats
3. Preparation of skinner box or maze for the study of mouse or rat behavior
4. Mother-pup bond in mice and rats
5. Infant killing behavior
6. Pecking behavior of chickens
7. Hiding behavior of chicks
8. Observation of birds nests and study of parental behavior 
9. Altruistic behavior in monkeys.