SYLLABUS FOR ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
ZOOLOGY 304 – FALL 2001
Scope and Requirements of the Course
This course is a description and examination of the questions, hypotheses, methods of
experimentation, and ideas pertaining to the biological bases of behavior. It includes
consideration of proximate causes and the ultimate causes of behavior. Proximate causes
address the processes that determine the way an animal behaves -- what are the genetic,
developmental, and physiological mechanisms controlling behavior? Ultimate causes address
the factors that determine why animals behave the ways they do -- what are the evolutionary
and ecological variables affecting the adaptive significance of behavior patterns? Through
lectures and readings we will explore the types of questions animal behaviorists ask, the
methods they use to study animal behavior, the types of data they collect, and the ways they
interpret their data to gain a better understanding of animal behavior.
Instructor:
Dr. Bonnie Bowen
215 Science II
294-6391; bsbowen@iastate.edu
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 11-12 am; feel free to make appointments for other times
that fit your schedule.
Texts:
Alcock, John. 2001 (7th edition). Animal Behavior: an evolutionary approach. Sinauer
Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA.
Topoff, Howard, ed. 1987. The “Natural History” reader in animal behavior. Columbia
University Press, New York.
Lecture Notes:
The text portions of my lecture notes will be available for you to purchase at
Copyworks. Because we are using a new edition of the text and because I need to revise my
lectures to correspond to the text, I will make the lecture notes available in several
installments. I will tell you in class when the next installment is available at Copyworks.
Copies of the PowerPoint presentations, with images, will be available on the Darwin server
within 24 hours of presentation (they may be there before lectures, but I don’t guarantee it).
To access the lecture notes on Darwin, get into the BioSoftware server, then All
Course Folders, then Zool 304. Within Zool 304 there are two folders.
Lectures 2001 will contain the lecture slides, which can be viewed using the Power
Point slide viewer. More complete instructions for viewing the slides are presented in a
separate handout. Reviewing these slides can be a big help in studying for exams, but they
are not a substitute for attending lectures. Much of the material I present and test on is not in
the slides.
The second folder is Handouts 2001. This folder contains study questions and other
handouts that you may need access to as the semester progresses. To access the files in
either folder, click on the arrow (>) to turn it down and open the folder.
Please see me if you have any problems with the system or the files.
Grading and exams:
Most of your grade in the course will be based on examinations. Exams will cover
material presented in lecture, as well as reading from Alcock’s book and Topoff’s book (some
of which may not be presented in lecture). There will be three exams during class periods and
a final exam at the time designated by the university (Thurs, Dec 20, 9:45-11:45 am). The
exams during class will cover material presented since the last exam. The final exam will
emphasize material presented after the third exam. Concepts and principles presented in
earlier parts of the course that apply to the last part of the course may appear on the final
exam. A review sheet covering these principles will be distributed before the final exam.
In addition, you will be required to write two essays based on readings from Topoff’s
book. Each essay will be worth 30 points. Due dates are listed on the schedule.
There will be several in-class exercises and/or quizzes (unannounced) during the
semester. I will drop the exercise/quiz with the lowest grade.
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final exam
Essays
Class exercises
Total
75 points
75 points
75 points
75 points
60 points
40 points
400 points
Zoology 304
Fall 2001
Dr. Bowen
LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE
For reading assignments, A refers to Alcock and T refers to Topoff.
WEEK
DATE TOPIC
No.
LECTURE TOPIC
1
8/27
8/29
8/31
00
01
01
Why study animal behavior?
How to study animal behavior
How to study animal behavior (cont)
Introduction
Ch 1
Pgs 184-192
2
9/3
9/5
9/7
02
03
NO CLASS—LABOR DAY
Evolutionary principles & behavior
Proximate & ultimate causes
Ch 1
Ch 2
3
9/10
9/12
9/12
9/14
03
04
4
5
READ
Alcock
Topoff
Ch 2
Ch 3
04
Proximate & ultimate causes
The role of genes in behavior
ESSAY #1 DUE
Genetics continued
9/17
9/19
9/21
05
05
05
The role of environment in behavior
The role of environment in behavior
The role of environment in behavior
Ch 4
Ch 4
9/24
9/26
9/28
06
Ch 5
07
Neural mechanisms-Ethology
Exam 1
Nervous systems
10/1
10/3
10/5
08
08
09
Sensory systems: vision
Sensory systems: vision
Hearing and Echolocation
Ch 5
Ch 5
Ch 5
7
10/8
10/10
10/12
09
10
10
Echolocation cont.
Orientation & navigation cont.
Orientation & navigation cont.
Ch 3
Ch 5
Ch 5
Pgs 259-266
8
10/15
10/17
10/19
10
11
11
Orientation & navigation cont.
Biorhythms
Biorhythms
Ch 6
Ch 6
6
Ch 20 & 4
Ch 3
Ch 24
Ch 21
Ch 25
Ch 5
Ch 1
Ch 2, 6
Ch 13
Zoology 304
Fall 2001
Dr. Bowen
LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE--page 2
For reading assignments, A refers to Alcock and T refers to Topoff.
WEEK
9
DATE TOPIC
No.
10/22
12
10/24
10/26
12
LECTURE TOPIC
READ
Space Use
Exam 2
Territoriality
Alcock
Ch 9
Topoff
Ch 9
Ch 15, 23
Ch 17
10
10/29
10/31
11/2
13
13
13
Responses to predators
Feeding behavior
Feeding behavior
Ch 7
Ch 8
Ch 8
11
11/5
11/7
11/7
11/9
14
14
Social living
Social living
ESSAY #2 DUE
Evolution of communication
Ch 14
Ch 14 Ch 16
11/12
11/14
11/16
15
12
15
15
Evolution of communication
Exam 3
Evolution of communication
Ch 10
Ch 10
Ch 10
THANKSGIVING BREAK
13
11/26
11/28
11/30
16
16
16
Reproductive tactics
Reproductive tactics
Reproductive tactics
Ch 12 Ch 12
Ch 12
Ch 12
14
12/3
12/5
12/7
17
17
17
Mating systems
Mating systems
Mating systems
Ch 13
Ch 13
Ch 13
15
12/10
12/12
12/14
18
18
Parental care
Parental care
Conclusions
16
12/20--Thursday; 9:45-11:45 am FINAL EXAM
Ch 14 Ch 22
Ch 14
Ch 11