Description

Syllabus

Schedule

Archives

Blackboard

BCS 244: Lecture Schedule

Only students who are enrolled in the course may access the readings online. You must be logged into Blackboard to download the course readings.

Date Topic Assigned Reading In Class Activity
01/18 Introduction   Getting to know each other
01/20 Intro to Ethology | pdf Ch 1 up to p.11 DQ 1.2
01/23 Evolution | pdf Ch 1 pp12-end DQ 1.9, 1.11
01/25 Genetics | pdf Brave New Brain Ch 5  
01/27 Neuronal Control | pdf Ch 4 pp107-112, Ch 5 pp150-153 DQ 4.1, 4.2, 5.1
01/30 Biological Clocks | pdf Ch 5 pp153-161  
02/01 Long-Term Cycles | pdf Ch 5 pp161-172 DQ 5.3
02/03 Behavioral Choice Bargmann article Journal Club Discussion
02/06 EXAM 1    
Courtship & Mating
02/08 Birdsong: development | pdf Ch 2 up to p.45  
02/10 Birdsong: social | pdf Ch 2 p.46-end  
02/13 Birdsong Research article Journal Club Discussion
02/15 UV, coloration | pdf Ch 4 pp131-133, Ch 9 pp299- DQ 9.6
02/17 Honest signals | pdf Ch 9 p.317-end  
02/20 Honest signals   DQ 9.15
02/22 Drosophila | pdf Review article  
02/24 Drosophila Research article Journal Club Discussion
02/27 EXAM 2    
Reproductive Behavior
02/29 Sex roles | pdf Ch 10 up to p.339 DQ 10.1
03/02 Competition for mates | pdf Ch 10 pp.340-350 DQ 10.8
03/05 Dominance Research article Journal Club Discussion
03/07 Sexual selection & mate choice | pdf Ch 10 pp.360-371  
03/09 Sexual conflict | pdf Ch 10 pp.371-end DQ 10.17
  SPRING BREAK 03/12-03/16    
03/19 Mating systems; monogamy | pdf Ch 1 review pp4-13, Ch 11 pp380-393 DQ 1.4, DQ 11.2
03/21 Polyandry | pdf Ch 11 pp393-404 DQ 11.6 & 11.7
03/23 Polygyny: tactics | pdf Ch 11 pp404-end  
03/26 Parental care | pdf Ch 12  
03/28 Parental care Research article Journal Club Discussion
03/30 EXAM 3    
Survival Behavior
04/02 Echolocation | pdf Ch 4 pp112-122, 125-126  
04/04 Foraging in moles | pdf Ch 4 pp127-130 DQ 4.7
04/06 Foraging in bees and birds Ch 3 pp64-72  
04/09 Foraging Research article Journal Club Discussion
04/11 Feeding behavior | pdf Ch 7 up to p.238  
04/13 Adaptive value of feeding behavior | pdf Ch 7 pp238-end DQ 7.15
04/16 Anti-predator behavior | pdf Ch 6 pp196- DQ 6.7
04/18 Predator-Prey Research article-cats and rats Journal Club Discussion
04/20 Optimality & game theory wrt antipredator beahvior Ch 6 pp211-end  
04/23 Migration | pdf Ch 3 pp76-79, Ch 4 pp141-147, Ch 8 pp261-274  
04/25 Territoriality | pdf Ch 8 pp274-end  
04/27 Human perception & navigation | pdf Ch 4 pp134-141 DQ 4.11
04/30 Navigation Research article Journal Club Discussion
05/02 EXAM 4    

Possible Project Topics

  • Favoritism
  • Infanticide
  • Territory defense
  • Polyphenisms (subordinate, color, mating)
  • Learning
  • Kin discrimination

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