Animal Behaviour

This course introduces students to the field of Animal Behaviour, considering the four questions of Tinbergen, i.e. causation, development, function, and evolution of behaviour. Students also learn about methods in Animal Behaviour, and apply this knowledge during a practical. The course will provide students with important basic tools, knowledge, and experience for studying animal behaviour and general best practices in research. Finally, students are instructed in best practices in study design, science, and scientific writing. As part of the course, students write parts of a scientific paper in English in the style of a scientific publication using data collected and analysed during the practical.

• Discuss and analyse principles of behaviour

• Define, apply, and distinguish the 4 questions of Tinbergen

• Apply behavioural and evolutionary thinking to interpret data, and to report scientific findings in animal behaviour

• Define behaviours, and analyse the evolutionary process of different behaviours

• Comprehend the theoretical framework of the evolutionary and mechanistic approach in animal behaviour

• Design and conduct research in animal behaviour

• Apply the best practices of scientific writing in English in animal behaviour

• Written test with open and closed questions (60%)
• Assignment report (40%) In case of a failed or late report, students can hand in a new version at the next re-sit option.

• Breed, M. D., \& Moore, J. (2015). Animal behavior. Academic Press. Note: The WUR library have ebook copies for WUR students. https://wur.on.worldcat.org/oclc/784140591 Kappeler, P. M. *Animal Behaviour : An Evolutionary Perspective* , \[Fifth edition\].; Springer: Cham, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82879-0.Note: The WUR library have ebook copies for WUR students. https://wur.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1295270955