Biology 4436G - Behavioural Ecology – Syllabus 2013
Calendar description:
A study of the relationships between animal behaviour, ecology and evolution.
Topics include: natural selection and behavioural adaptations, levels of
selection; mating systems, reproductive strategies and parental investment;
optimality theory as applied to foraging, predation, competition and
investment; social groups and communication. 2 lecture hours, 3
laboratory/seminar hours, 0.5 course
Prerequisite:
Biology 3436 – Animal Behaviour F/G or Psychology
3221F/G and either completion of at least 1.5 Biology
courses from the 3000 level or above, or registration in
year 4 of the Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour
Lectures:
M/W 9:30-10:30, Biological & Geological Sciences Building
(B&GS) 1056
Lectures will often be interactive whereby we openly
discuss or debate material.
Laboratory:
W 2:30-5:30, Chemistry Building (ChB) 386
Professor:
Dr Graham J Thompson gthomp6@uwo.ca, phone x86570
Office: 2068 Biological & Geological Sciences Building.
Contact:
You may come to me with questions and comments. E-mail is also a good
option. Please send emails from your UWO account. You may also post
questions to WebCT / OWL course discussion board. Your peers may also be
able to answer your questions or learn from them.
Teaching assistant: Scott Colborne (scolbor@uwo.ca) and Aimee Lee Houde
(ahoude@uwo.ca)
Course Technicians: Sarah Lee (sarahlee@uwo.ca; BGS 3018; phone
x87435; cell: 519-630-4498 - for emergency use only). Caroline Kahiri
(ckahiri2@uwo.ca; BGS 3074; phone x80216; cell: 519-694-5913 - for
emergency use only).
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Course website: WebCT / OWL.
Lecture outlines, handouts and additional reading will appear on the course
site and usually available 24 h before the lecture. In addition, important
announcements will be made on WebCT / OWL, and you are responsible for
obtaining this information.
Laboratory projects:
The lab portion of the course consists of a research project to be carried out
by students working in small groups (2 people). This is a major component of
the course. Once approved, students can work on their projects at anytime,
not just in the prescribed laboratory period. That said, the timetabled lab
period guarantees you will have time, provided you use it 
Course text:
Recommended – Davies, Krebs & West 2012. An Introduction to Behavioural
Ecology (4rd ed).
Evaluation:
Project proposal:
10%
Project reports:
25%
Project presentations:
20%
Constructive participation:
5%
Final exam:
40%
Final exam: will be a mix of short answer, calculations and long
answer. Because there is no midterm, the final exam will obviously be
cumulative and will require integrating concepts learned throughout
the course.
Moreover, given this is a senior level course; we will be looking for your
ability to explain what you know, often at the conceptual level. Your
ability to communicate in oral and written form is therefore an
important aspect of the course.
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Important Dates:
Jan
Jan
Mar
Apr
Final
09:
30:
18:
08:
First lab, form groups of two
Project Proposal due
Project presentations begin
Project Reports due
Final Exam Period
Electronic devices: A hand held calculator or equivalent is permitted for
performing scientific calculations in class, in tutorial and in exam. You are
free to bring laptops or smartphones for note taking – just don’t distract
anybody.
Preparations:
Students are expected to attend all lectures and participate, when
appropriate, in class discussion.
Missed exams:
If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other
serious circumstances, you must provide valid medical or other supporting
documentation to the Dean's office as soon as possible (within 48 hrs) and
contact your instructor. It is the student's responsibility to make alternative
arrangements with their instructor once the accommodation has been
approved and the instructor has been informed. In the event of a missed final
exam, a "Recommendation of Special Examination" form must be obtained
from the Dean's Office immediately. For further information please see:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf
Without approval from the Office of the Dean of Science, a grade of 0% will
be awarded for any missed exam or assignment.
A student requiring academic accommodation due to illness, should use the
Student Medical Certificate when visiting an off-campus medical facility or
request a Record's Release Form (located in the Dean's Office) for visits to
Student Health Services. The form can be found here:
https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf
Academic Offences:
Scholastic offences are taken seriously. Read the policy at
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
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