This page last updated 07/29/2008
The schedule on this page will be updated to reflect changes throughout the semester. You should check it often to check for changes in the dates of exams.
Please note that the schedule is tentative and the dates of the exams and the chapters that each exam will cover are tentative and subject to change. Exam dates are not set until they are announced in class. Due dates for assignments may be changed at the instructor's discretion. You are responsible for keeping track of due dates and turning in your work when it is required.
| Week of: | Lecture Topic | Reading Assignments |
| January 7 | Course introduction Evolutionary approach to animal behavior
Statistics in animal behavior |
Course syllabus Chapter 1 - Read pp 12-16 on your own. You will need to download these handouts and bring them to class |
| January 14 | Statistics in animal behavior (cont'd) Proximate vs. ultimate causation |
Chapter 2 - this chapter will not be covered in lecture, but you need to read the following sections on your own. You will be tested on this material
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January 21 - MLK Holiday - No classes |
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| January 23 | Statistics in behavior (cont'd)
Lab exercise: methods for collecting data and interobserver reliability
Development of behaviors
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Lab exercise - print this handout,
read it ahead of time, and bring it to class. The data
sheets will be provided by your instructor. We'll do this exercise
in class and it will take a full period. Chapter 3
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| January 28 | Control of behavior
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Chapter 4 |
| February 4 | Control of behavior (cont'd) Organization of behavior |
Chapter 4 (cont'd) Chapter 5 |
| February 11 | Review for exam Exam 1 (ch 1-4 & statistics) - 2/13/08 Ethogram assignment |
These are the videos we'll be watching - I have higher resolution versions that I will try to project - if you want to download these before class it will allow you to watch them in case the projector doesn't work. |
| February 18 | Organization of behavior (cont'd) Behavioral adaptations Data presentation |
Chapter 5 (cont'd) Chapter 6
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| February 25 | Feeding behavior |
Chapter 7 |
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February 29th - Midterm Deadline - Last day to withdraw without academic penalty |
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March 1-9 - Spring Break - No Classes |
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| March 10 | Feeding behavior (cont'd) Habitat selection & migration |
Chapter 7 (cont'd) Chapter 8 - only the first portion of this chapter will be covered in lecture. You will need to read pp 264-273 on your own, and will be expected to know this material. You need to read those pages BEFORE we cover chapter 9. |
| March 17 | Exam 2 (ch 5-7 & data presentation) Habitat selection & migration (cont'd) Communication |
Chapter 8 (cont'd) Chapter 9 - the first portion of this chapter will not be covered in lecture, but you are expected to know it. The section you need to read on your own is pp 275-288 - the ideas you should understand are listed on the objectives for the chapter, which will be available for download in the lecture outline. Honest signaling and the "Handicap Principle". Read the following articles to give you some additional background on the ideas we are covering in lecture. You should understand the ideas covered in them. |
| March 24 | Communication (cont'd) Reproduction & mating systems (part 1) |
Chapter 9 (cont'd) Chapter 10 |
| March 31 | Reproduction & mating systems | Chapter 10 (cont'd) |
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Friday April 4 - No class today - check the web page for the assignment instructions. |
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| April 7 | Exam 3 (ch 8-10) - Monday 4/7 Reproduction & mating systems (part 2) |
Chapter 11 |
| April 14 | Reproduction & mating systems (cont'd) Parental care |
Chapter 11 (cont'd) Chapter 12 |
| April 21 | Parental care | Chapter 12 (cont'd) |
| April 28 | Poster session | You will be giving a presentation based on your observations of your study species. |
| Friday May 2nd | Final Exam - 10:00 - 12:00 | Remaining Material & comprehensive over material covered during the semester. |