Syllabus for ZOO 4926 Introduction To Animal Behavior Spring 2014

Course Instructor: Dr. Matthew Smith 316 Bartram Hall [email protected] matthew-d-smith.com

Office hours: Wednesday 2-4 (Bartram 316)

Class Time & Location: Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Period 6 (12:50 – 1:40) McCarty Hall B (MCCB), room G086.

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES: 6 January 2014 LAST DAY OF CLASSES: 23 April 2014 FINAL EXAM: Thursday 1 May, 3-5 p.m. in MCCB G086

I. Course Description: This 3-credit course is a survey of animal behavior, the study of animal behavior from a zoological and evolutionary perspective. We discuss both the mechanisms and the adaptive significance of behavior in a wide diversity of species, including wild, domestic and companion animals. How does behavior evolve? Is there a genetic basis to behavior? How does behavior develop in the individual? Do animals have culture and do they transmit information socially? Do principles of animal behavior apply to human behavior? Do animals show altruism? Do animals communicate and, if so, what are they talking about? How do animals choose mates? Why do animals fight? The nature/nurture debate and sociobiology, motivation, hormones, homing, escape responses, foraging, parental care, sexual selection and the evolution of sociality are discussed in a wide range of species.

Prerequisites: CORE Biology sequence or equivalent is required.

II. Textbook and other materials: (1) Perspectives on Animal Behavior by Judith Goodenough, Betty McGuire and Elizabeth Jakob (3rd edition only, Wiley Press).

(2) Supplementary material for lectures, discussions and labs will be available on this course web site. Both the texts and the supplementary materials are required. It is important that you read the assigned material very carefully before each lab or lecture. The lectures assume that you have done all the reading for that week, so please keep up with the weekly reading assignments. A schedule of the reading is given on the course syllabus that is on this course web site.

1 (3) E-Learning: All material is provided on the course page. Please consult our page for up-to-date information, deadlines and additional information for the lectures and labs. It is very important that you keep up with the material in this course!

III. Credit Hours: 3

IV. Course Objectives: Basic biological principles (e.g. natural selection, evolution) and basic scientific principles (e.g. scientific method, phylogenetic analysis and statistics) are discussed in the context of animal behavior. Skills needed by any professional life scientist (e.g. observation, experimental design, data analysis, writing) are an important part of this course.

Throughout the course I ask that you integrate the material you have learned in lecture with what you read in the text and supplementary material provided on the web site, with the class discussions and with the observations you are making, the methods you are learning and the experiments you are conducting in the laboratory. It is all one course and it is expected that lessons learned in one part will be applied to other parts.

V. Policies and requirements:

Attendance Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. This course covers a great deal of material; absences/excessive tardiness should be avoided as you may find yourself hopelessly behind. If unavoidable circumstances (= a valid excuse) prevent a student from attending a scheduled class, that student MUST notify the instructor in advance or within 24 hours of the missed class so we can arrange for you to make up any work missed (e.g. a test). If a test is missed due to an EXCUSED absence, the student is responsible for scheduling a retest with the instructor. If the retest is not taken before the next scheduled test, a zero for the missed test will be given. Students who, without a valid (e.g. doctor’s) excuse, request to take an exam late, will automatically have 20 pts deducted from their 1st late exam and 30 points from their 2nd late exam, and 40 points from their third (In other words, don’t call in “sick” because you want more time to study). I will take roll and/or give random quizzes during class. Attendance and preparation will be taken into account when determining your final grade.

Classroom behavior Behave with courtesy towards your fellow students and the instructor. Avoid talking during lecture as it is highly disruptive to other students. Cell phones should be turned off before coming to class. Any student who persists in interrupting the class or who acts aggressively/disrespectfully will be asked to leave.

Grammar Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization and paragraphing should be incorporated in exams as well as any typed reports. Spelling and Grammar will be graded.

2 Current UF grading policies for assigning grade points. http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html.

Incomplete (“I”) If a student has completed the majority of the course work and particular DOCUMENTED circumstances prevent completion of the course in the time allotted, the student may, with the agreement of the instructor, be assigned an “I” pending resolution of the grade. All incompletes MUST be resolved by the end of the following term or the student will receive a grade of “E” (failing).

VI. Drop/Add/Withdrawal: A student can drop/add during the drop add period with no penalty. After drop/add, a student who drops will receive a W until the date listed in the academic calendar. After that date, the student may be assigned an “E” (fail). Note: it is the responsibility of the STUDENT to withdraw from a course, not the instructor. Failure to attend class is NOT a drop.

VII. Honesty Policy: It is expected that you will exhibit ethical behavior concerning your work in this course. Students are expected to do their own work, use their own words on papers and reference all outside sources always. Failure to uphold the standards of academic honesty will result in the appropriate disciplinary action. Academic honesty pledge: “I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all of their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action, up to an including expulsion from the University.” University of Florida Rule 6C1-4.

If you witness any instances of academic dishonesty in this class, please notify the instructor or contact the Student Honor Court (392-1631) or Cheating Hotline (392-6999). For additional information on Academic Honesty, please refer to the University of Florida Academic Honesty Guidelines at: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/procedures/academicguide.html.

VIII. Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: Students who will require a classroom accommodation for a disability must contact the Dean of Students Office of Disability Resources, in Peabody 202 (phone: 352-392-1261). Please see the University of Florida Disability Resources website for more information at: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drp/services/.

It is the policy of the University of Florida that the student, not the instructor, is responsible for arranging accommodations when needed. Once notification is complete, the Dean of Students Office of Disability Resources will work with the instructor to accommodate the student.

3 IX. Copyrights: The lectures and all materials provided for this course are the property of the instructors and may not be used for any commercial purposes. Lectures may not be taped without prior permission.

All faculty, staff and student of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.

X. UF Counseling Services: Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals. The resources include: UF Counseling & Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Rd, 392-1575, psychological and psychiatric services. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career and job search services. Many students experience test anxiety and other stress related problems. “A Self Help Guide for Students” is available through the Counseling Center (301 Peabody Hall, 392- 1575) and at their web site: http://www.counsel.ufl.edu/.

XI. Chairman of the Department of Biology: Dr. Craig Osenberg, 220 Bartram.

XII. Course assignments and grading policies Evaluation: Your grade is based on (1) weekly assignments (I will drop your lowest single scores on these assignments); (2) one two-hour mid-term exam given in the evening; (3) one two- hour final given in the evening (see schedule for dates and times, see me if there are unavoidable conflicts); and (4) quizzes and class participation. There may be unannounced short assignments or quizzes for any given class period, including some in-class work. To complete these you will need to be in class, so class attendance is required.

Examinations Any material covered during the lecture period or assigned in your reading may be included in the examinations. This can include textbook illustrations, films, .ppt slides AND actual lectures. Take notes! Tests will consist of multiple choice, T/F, short answer, and essay questions. Quizzes may be given at any time, without notice. There will be no make-up quizzes. If a student misses one exam due to a preapproved excused absence, s/he must make up the missed test before the next exam or receive a zero for the missed test.

Policy on late assignments: The grade on all assignments will drop one grade for each day that they are late, so please keep up.

4 Graded Item Date Time / place Total Points Percent of total Mid Term Exam T, 18 Feb TBA 100 ~30% Homework Assignments - Take-home 100 ~30% Participation / attendance - In class 25 ~10% Final Exam Th, 1 May 3-5 p.m. in 100 ~30% MCCB G086 FINAL GRADE 325 100

GRADE SCALE:

A 100 – 95% C 73 – 76% A- 90 – 94% C- 70 – 72% B+ 87 – 89% D+ 67 – 69% B 83 – 86% D 63 – 66% B- 80 – 82% D- 60 - 62% C+ 77 – 79% E < 60%

Final grades will be determined by the instructor after consideration of the class’s overall average. Grade adjustment will ONLY be upwards; an assigned grade will never be lower than your raw point score.

5 XII. Lecture Schedule for Spring 2014 (**subject to revision**) Check E-learning at the beginning of each week for homework assignments

Chapter Topic Week Date Lecture Topic (Readings) 6 January 1 Studying Behavior Introduction to Animal Behavior Mon  (Text Ch. 2) 8 January  (Observing & Studying behavior Wed describing behavior) 10 January  (Study of behavior – Assumptions Fri optional) 13 January 2 Evolution of behavior Mon Evolutionary Approaches to 15 January Behavior Phylogeny Wed (Text Ch. 4) 17 January Case studies in evolution Fri 20 January 3 No Class Mon 22 January Proximate & Ultimate causes Proximate and ultimate explanations Wed of behavior 24 January (Text Ch. 1) Alternative hypothesis testing Fri 27 January 4 Innate versus learned behavior Mon Development & Genetics of 29 January behavior Social learning Wed (Text Ch. 3 & 5) 31 January Teaching in animals Fri 3 February 5 Neural mechanisms of behavior Mon Neural Mechanisms of 5 February behavior & Umwelt Instinct theory; Pattern generators Wed (Text Ch. 6) 7 February Comparative neuroethology Fri 10 February 6 Bee behavior Mon Organization of behavior: 12 February Hormones Motivation & Drive Wed (Text Ch. 7) 14 February Hormonal control of behavior Fri 17 February 7 No Class Mon 18 February MID-TERM EXAM Time & Place TBA Tues 19 February Wed Constraints on adaptation Studying Behavioral Adaptations 21 February Studying behavioral adaptations Fri 24 February 8 Optimal foraging Mon Optimality Modeling and 26 February Trade-offs: Foraging Modeling behavior Wed behavior 28 February (Text Ch. 12) Modeling behavior continued Fri 9 3, 5, 7 March Spring Break 10 March 10 Migration Mon Migration, Aggression, and 12 March Choosing where to live Habitat selection Wed (Text Ch. 11) 14 March Aggression Fri 17 March 11 Communication Mon 19 March Communication Evolution of signals Wed (Text Ch. 16) 21 March Case studies in communication Fri 24 March 12 Differential mating success Mon Reproductive behavior & 26 March Sexual Selection Processes of sexual selection Wed (Text Ch. 14) 28 March Mate choice Fri 31 March 13 Sex contract video (print sheet for class!) Mon 2 April Mating Systems Mating system patterns Wed (Text Ch. 15) 4 April Leks Fri 7 April Parental Care 14 Parental behavior Mon (Text Ch. 15) 9 April Conflicts over parental investment Wed 11 April Case studies in parental care Fri 14 April 15 Introduction to social behavior Mon 16 April Social Behavior I Evolution of social behavior: felids Wed (Text Ch. 18) 18 April Communal breeding Fri 21 April 16 Eusociality Mon Social Behavior II 23 April (Text Ch. 19) Sociobiology 1 May FINAL EXAM 3-5 p.m. in MCCB G086 Thursday