Fundamentals of Animal Behavior
Fall 2012
Instructor: Jeff Schank
Email: jcschank@ucdavis.edu
Office: 268D Young Hall
Phone: 752-6332
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:50 and by appointment
Course description: This is the first of a two-quarter sequence. PSC/ANB 218B will be offered Winter 2012, and led by Andy Sih, Environmental Science and Policy. The goal of this course is to sample current and traditional topics in the field of animal behavior. You will learn about the basic phenomena, concepts, and theoretical approaches of animal behavior, but no two-quarter sequence can provide the entire breadth and depth of animal behavior.
When:
Speakers: Monday: 6:10 PM to 8:00 PM and Friday 2:10 PM-4:00 PM
Discussion: Friday 4:10 PM to 5:00 PM
Adjustments: Due to the nature of this course adjustments may be required for some speakers and discussion.
Where:
Lectures: 145 Young Hall (with possible exceptions)
Discussion: 145 Young Hall
Grading:
40% from position papers and leading discussion (you will write 3 papers and lead or co-lead 2 discussions), 15% from review papers on 3 of the position papers (you will write 3 review papers on 3 of the discussion papers), 20% participation in discussions, 25% final exam
Course Website:
https://wtj.ojd.mybluehost.me/website_973e482e/
Look under the “Courses” menu.
Course details:
(1) As noted below, different topics will be the responsibility of different speakers. Each speaker has been asked to lecture on the assigned topic, and then moderate a 1-hour (when possible) with a student-led discussion on the topic.
(2) This means that you, the students, will be leading the discussions (this task will rotate among you). Because of the number of people registered, there will often be co-discussants. Please be thinking about what topic you would prefer.
(3) Each speaker will provide readings prior to the beginning of his/her lectures. Please prepare for lectures by reading that material.
(4) Each speaker will assign the associated discussion topic at the beginning of his/her lectures.
(5) Preparation for each discussion will involve
(a) reviewing the lecture and reading material so that
you can lead the discussion, but everyone else is expected
to join in (this is the main part of the 20% participant
discussion);
(b) for a subset of you each time, you will write a
short position paper on the topic (no longer than 2
single-spaced pages)that you will circulate to all
parties to read exactly one week after the topic is
discussed. You should look into additional reading
and include references for these papers. You will send
it using the class email list: anb218a-f12@ucdavis.edu; and
(c) A subset of you, will write a short review of the
position paper (between 1/2 and 1 page
spaced pages). The review will briefly
discuss the the strong points of the position
paper and the weak points (e.g., "I think the author
should have included more about X", or "I do not
think that topic X is fundamental to the topic."
or "I think that that X is better, explained or
articulated as this..."). The short review will
be due 3 days after you receive the discussion paper.
You will send out your review using the
class email list: anb218a-f12@ucdavis.edu.
CLASS SCHEDULE – FALL, 2011
Fundamentals of Animal Behavior (ANB/PSC218A – Schank Instructor)
Lecture times – M, 6:10-8:00 PM; F, 2:10-4:00 PM; Discussion times – F, 4:10-5:00 PM (with possible exceptions indicated in red)
1. Monday – Oct. 1 – Organize; Introduction, Jeff Schank
Readings (1) On the aims and methods of ethology (2) Complexity and Organization Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
(24.8 MB)
2. Friday – Oct. 5 – Communication, Conor Taff
Readings (1) Signaling (2) Avian psychology and communication Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio/assignments:
Friday – Oct. 5 – Discussion – Jeff Schank – Introduction Audio file:
3. Monday – Oct. 8 – Communication, Conor Taff
Readings (1) Complex signal function: developing a framework of testable hypotheses. (2) What do animal signals mean? (3) The central importance of information in studies of animal communication. (4) Information and Communication Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
4. Friday – Oct. 12 – Communication, Conor Taff
Readings (1) Animal Signals: Models and Terminology. (2) The cost of honesty and the fallacy of the handicap principle Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Oct. 6 – Discussion – Conor Taff – Communication – Dicussion Leader(s): – Audio:
5. Monday – Oct. 15 – Quantitative genetics, Andy Sih
Readings (1) Multivariate inheritance and evolution: a review of concepts (2) The genetics of fish behavior (3) The genetics of politics: discovery, challenges, and progress Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
6. Friday – Oct 19 – Quantitative genetics, Andy Sih (Start time: 3:10 PM)
Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Oct. 19 – Discussion – Andy Sih – Quantitative genetics – Dicussion Leader(s):
7. Monday Oct. 22 – Genomics, Brian Trainor
Readings (1) Natural variations in maternal care are associated with estrogen receptor expression and estrogen sensitivity in the medial preoptic area. (2) Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats. (3) Gene expression profiles in the brain predict behavior in individual honey bees. Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
8. Friday Oct. 26 – Genomics, Brian Trainor
Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Oct. 20 – Discussion – Brian Trainor – Genomics – Discussion Leader(s):
9. Monday Oct. 29 – Behavioral endocrinology, Tom Hahn
Readings (1) Hormonal control and evolution of alternative male phenotypes: generalizations of models of sexual differentiation (2) Variation in reproductive behaviour within a sex: neural systems and endocrine activation Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
10. Friday Nov. 2 – Behavioral endocrinology, Tom Hahn
Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Nov. 2 – Discussion – Tom Hahn – Behavioral Endocrinology – Discussion Leader(s): Helen Chmura, Julia Cotton
11. Monday Nov. 5 – Nov. 1 – Behavioral Schedules, Tom Hahn (These lecture will be moved to the following week)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
12. Friday Nov. 9 – Behavioral Schedules, Tom Hahn
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Nov. 9 – Discussion – Tom Hahn – Behavioral Schedules – Discussion Leader(s): Helen Chmura, Myfanwy Johnston
13. Monday Nov. 12 – Agent-Based Models of Behavior, Jeff Schank
Readings
(1) Agent-based modeling: Methods and techniques for simulating human systems
(2) Agent-Based Modeling: A New Approach for Theory Building in Social Psychology (other than
human examples, the points made here apply to animal
behavior as well)
(3) A standard protocol for describing individual-based and agent-based models
(4) Beyond Reductionism: Refocusing on the Individual with Individual-based Modeling
Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
14. Friday Nov. 16 – TBA (Movement and Migration)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Nov. 16 – Discussion – Jeff Schank, TBA – Agent-based models – Discussion Leader(s): Jay Jefferson – Movement and Migration – Discussion Leader(s): Helen Chmura, Myfanwy Johnston
15. Monday Nov. 19 – TBA (Social bonding: evolution, physiology, neurobiology, and development)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
Friday – Nov. 16 – Discussion
– TBA
– Discussion Leader(s):
16. Friday Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Break
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: Friday – Nov. 23 – No Discussion
17. Monday Nov. 26 – TBA (Learning/Cognition)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
18. Friday Nov. 30 – TBA (Methodology)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: Friday – Nov. 30 – Discussion – TBA
19. Monday Dec. 3 – TBA (Animal Welfare)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:
20. Friday Dec. 7 – TBA (Animal Welfare)
Readings Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: Friday – Dec. 7 – Discussion – TBA – Animal Welfare – Discussion Leader(s): Kristen Denninger
FINAL EXAM – Dec. 10, 24h take home (Tentative)