Comparative Animal Behavior
Biology 254; Fall, 2011
This course explores the scientific study of animal behavior. All animals face similar challenges
and we will examine the common, and sometimes unique, behavioral strategies used to meet these
challenges. There are 2 sorts of questions one might ask about the behavior of a given individual
or species. First, how is that behavior executed? Second, why is that behavior, rather than
another, exhibited? What is the adaptive significance of the behavior? To fully understand the
behavior of any organism, both sorts of questions must be addressed. This course will introduce
you to the many ways these questions are grappled with for a wide range of organisms. As such,
this course will provide an overview of mechanistic, ecological, and evolutionary explanations of
behavior.
Instructor:
John Kirn
Office hours: F 1:00-2:30 PM in Shanklin 409 or by appointment
Phone: ext. 3494; email:jrkirn@wesleyan.edu
Class room: SCIE 109 for Section 1 and SH201 for Section 2
Class times: TTH 9-10:20 for Section 1 and 2:40-4:00 for Section 2
Required text: Animal Behavior, 9th Edition, by John Alcock.
Exams: All exams will be held in the regular classroom and at the regular time. Exams will consist
of short answer/essay questions.
Exam 1 –10/6
Exam 2 –11/8
Exam 3 –12/8
Paper: You will also be asked to construct an Ethogram, which is due on 11/17. The topic must be
cleared by me before Fall Break and you must meet with me at least once again before the due
date.
Class Schedule
9/6
Orientation-Is this course right for you?
9/8
levels of analysis, Proximate-Ultimate Causation
9/13-15
Methods for the measurement of behavior /The Ethogram
CH 1
Proximate Causation
9/20
Proximate analyses of vocal behavior
CH 2
9/22-27
Genetic and environmental contributions to behavioral
CH 3
development
9/29-10/4
Signal detection, sensory filtering, and perceptual biases
10/5
Review session, 7 pm
10/6
Exam 1
10/11
Behavioral plasticity on varying time scales
CH 4
CH 5
Ultimate Causation
10/13
An adaptationist approach to the study of predator-prey interactions
CH 6
10/18-20
The Evolution of communication systems
CH 9
10/21-26
FALL BREAK
10/27
Communication in the Honey Bee
11/1
Reproductive strategies
CH 10
11/3
Ecological constraints on mating systems
CH 11
11/7
Review session, 7 pm
11/8
Exam 2
11/10
Parental Care
11/15
No class—work on ethograms!
11/17
Ethogram Due
11/17-22
Why be social?
11/23-28
Thanksgiving Break
pg 238-246
CH 12
Animal Cognition
11/29-12/1 Cognitive Ethology
Shettleworth, Ch 11,
(PDF in Moodle)
12/6
Course Overview
12/7
Review session 7pm
12/8
Exam 3 (regular class time)
12/9
Classes end