Animal Behavior (ABIO 366W) – 4 Credits
Spring 2012
Instructor:
Dr. Michelle Vieyra
Office : Science Building 209
Lecture:
Lab:
Email: michellev@usca.edu
Phone: 641-3608
SBDG 216: MW 2:30-3:45
SBDG 107: T 3:05-5:45
Suggested Textbook: Animal Behavior: Mechanisms, Ecology, Evolution by Drickamer
Required Saturday Field Trip: March 17, 9am- 4pm
Course Description and Objectives:
This course will examine the mechanistic side of behavior: how animals collect, process and
respond to information in their environment, as well as the evolutionary side of behavior: what
advantages do these mechanistic traits and behaviors have and why have they evolved over time.
We will cover specific topics in animal behavior to include communication, courtship,
aggression, foraging, habitat selection, and cooperation. After completing this course you should
understand the basic concepts in behavioral biology and be familiar with many of the
experiments that have facilitated our understanding of animal behavior.
Attendance policy:
Lecture: I will not be taking attendance but the exams are entirely from my lectures so it is in
your best interest to attend every class. Unless you miss an exam I do not need to know why you
are absent. It is your responsibility to get missed lecture material from another student (I do not
provide class notes). If you are absent on an exam day, the exam may be made-up under
documented circumstances. You must inform me via email the day of the exam and schedule a
make-up exam at that time. Exams must be made-up within 2 class days.
Lab: Missing lab is more difficult since you will be doing group activities that earn points. If
you miss a lab activity you will NOT be able to make up certain assignments (such as the short
proposals). If you are absent the day your group does an experiment with an accompanying lab
report or presentation you will NOT be allowed to get the data from a group member or
participate in the group presentation. You may be able to run an experiment on your own and
generate data to write about/ present. This is contingent on scheduling issues and availability of
the classroom and is not guaranteed.
Evaluation:
Exams: There will be five exams throughout the semester as noted on the calendar. They will
only cover the material given since the previous exam and will be worth 100 points each. Expect
a combination of multiple-choice, matching, true/false, fill in the blank, short answer and essay
questions on each exam.
Research proposal: You will write a 50 point research proposal for an experiment in animal
behavior. You will be graded on how well you researched your topic – a minimum of 5 primary
research articles will be required, as well as how well your experimental design reflects an
understanding of what makes a good experiment. More information on this assignment can be
found in your writing guide.
Lab Reports: You will write 2 lab reports worth 25 points each. Although you will conduct
experiments as a group the paper must be an individual effort. “Sharing” the effort will result in
a zero for everyone involved. More information on how to write a proper lab report can be
found in your writing guide.
LATE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE GIVEN A GRADE REDUCTION OF 10% PER DAY.
Group Presentations: You will give 2 group presentations in lab worth 25 points each. This
will be a group effort and everyone in the group will receive the same grade. The presentation
will be in the form of an oral lab report. More information on what you need to include in your
presentations is available in your writing guide.
Short Proposals: In the lab you will be designing your own experiments and coming up with
reasonable, testable hypotheses. You will do this as a group and turn in 3 short proposals worth
15 points each. Everyone in the group receives the same grade and the grade will be based on
how well you incorporate the principals of the scientific method.
Movie Write-ups: We will be watching several documentaries demonstrating principles learned
in lecture. You will be asked to write four papers worth 10 points each discussing the movie and
how it related to the lecture material. Your grade will be based on proper understanding and
application of lecture concepts.
Article Write-ups: For four out of five units (unit = material covered for each exam) you will
find a popular news or journal article that deals with a concept we covered during that time
period and write a one page review of the article discussing why you chose it, how it relates to
lecture materials, what you think about it and what you learned. These will be worth 10 points
each and are due on exam days. I suggest you do them earlier however.
Lab Quiz: There will be one practical laboratory quiz over identification of the anatomy of the
mammalian brain and eye worth 25 points.
Grade breakdown:
Exams (5)
Grading Scale:
100 points each
500 point total
50 points total
720-800
A
680-719
B+
640-679
B
Research Proposal
50 points
Lab Reports (2)
25 points each
Presentations (2)
25 points each
50 points total
600-639
C+
Short proposals (3)
15 points each
45 points total
560-599
C
Movie Write-ups (4)
10 points each
40 points total
520-559
D+
Article Write-ups (4)
10 points each
40 points total
480-519
D
Brain & Eye Quiz
25 points
25 points total
Below 480
F
Total:
50 points total
800 points
Spring 2012 Animal Behavior Lecture Calendar
Date
Lecture Topic
9-Jan
Introduction to Animal Behavior
11-Jan
History of Animal Behavior
16-Jan
NO CLASS – MLK DAY
18-Jan
Scientific Method Applied to Animal Behavior
23-Jan
Genetics of Behavior
25-Jan
Evolution of Behavior
30-Jan
Speciation through Behavioral Changes
1-Feb
EXAM 1
6-Feb
Basic Neurophysiology/ The Brain and Behavior
8-Feb
Sensory Systems and Behavior
13-Feb
Sensory Filters and Neural Command Centers
Hormones and Behavior
15-Feb
RESEARCH PROPOSAL TOPICS DUE
20-Feb
Biorhythms
22-Feb
EXAM 2
27-Feb
Innate Behaviors and Early Learning
29-Feb
Learning throughout Life, Social Learning
5-Mar
NO CLASS
7-Mar
NO CLASS
12-Mar
Animal Communication
Aggression and Dominance Behaviors
14-Mar
FIRST DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL DUE
19-Mar
EXAM 3
21-Mar
Reproductive Strategies I
26-Mar
Reproductive Strategies II
28-Mar
Mating Systems I
2-Apr
Mating Systems II, Parenting
4-Apr
Kin Selection & Cooperation
9-Apr
EXAM 4
11-Apr
Migration and Orientation
16-Apr
Habitat Selection
Feeding and Foraging
18-Apr
FINAL DRAFT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL DUE
23-April
Predator Avoidance Strategies
2-May
EXAM 5
Chapter
Spring 2012 Animal Behavior Lab Calendar
Date
Experiment/ Activity
10-Jan NO LAB
17-Jan Fly Taxis I
24-Jan Fly Taxis II
31-Jan *Research Topic Exploration
7-Feb Brain & Eye Dissection
14-Feb Movie - Animal Minds
21-Feb Betta Fish Sign Stimuli I
28-Feb Betta Fish Sign Stimuli II
6-Mar NO LAB - SPRING BREAK
13-Mar Intro to Ethograms
17-Mar SATURDAY ZOO TRIP 9am-4pm
Movie - Signals and Songs,
20-Mar Help analyzing zoo data
27-Mar Movie - Finding Partners
3-Apr Predator/Prey Strategies I
10-Apr Predator/Prey Strategies II
17-Apr Movie - Plant predators
*Bring a laptop to lab this day if you have one
Projects Due
Short Proposal I
Lab Report I
Brain & eye anatomy ID quiz
Short Proposal II
Presentation I
Lab Report II
Short Proposal III
Presentation II
Additional Business:
You are expected to follow the honor pledge on every assignment:
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither given nor received any
unauthorized aid on the assignment/examination. To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic
dishonesty.”
If you have a physical, psychological and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this course
please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803)641-3609 as soon as possible.
Policy for Portable Electronic Devices: The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers,
MP3 players, iPods, etc., during class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student
from the instructor or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they
must be turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device
during a test, quiz, or other assessment, you are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment. IF I SEE A
CELL PHONE IN YOUR HAND DURING AN EXAM I WILL TAKE YOUR EXAM AND GIVE YOU A
ZERO – NO EXCEPTIONS! I encourage you to take notes on your laptops if you wish but please do not visit
disruptive and distracting websites during class.
If you have questions or need help with anything in this course please email me and set up
an appointment to meet. I will generally be available every Monday and Wednesday
between 10 and 2:15 but I cannot guarantee I will be in my office unless you set up an
appointment with me.