Behavioral Ecology: Biology 528, 528L, 592B. Summer 2007.

Lecture (Bio. 528) will cover major topics in behavioral ecology, using J. R. Krebs and N. B. Davies. 1993. An introduction to behavioural ecology, 3rd Edition. Blackwell Science Inc. [ISBN 0632035463]. We will also read selections of original literature, and from Olivia Judson's fabulous Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation [paperback ISBN 0805063323].   Both are available at the bookstore.

Lab (Bio. 528L) will serve several functions.

• Background and preparation for fieldwork.
• Discussions of the journal readings related to the lecture and field topics.
• Data collection and management tutorials, e.g. using Microsoft Excel, as well as statistics and data analysis using available software packages.
• Processing of field data, e.g., mathematical summary, analysis and presentation of data.
• Specific lab behavior excercises, assignments, etc.

There will be two required weekend fieldtrips leaving Friday afternoon returning late Sunday afternoon/early evening; fieldtrips may involve camping in remote areas with no facilities.

Weekend time may be substituted for some of the weekday scheduled time.

Expectations and Grading:  I expect full participation, which means more than simply showing up.  It means actively engaging the material in lecture, lab and field situations. Questions and interaction are always encouraged!!

You are required to sign up for all three components of the course.  The +/- grading system will be used.

• Lecture will be graded based on a midterm (30%), Sex Advice presentation and costume party (20%), and a final exam (50%); exams will cover journal article readings as well as the lecture and text material.
• Lab will be graded based on six assignments of 15 points each (90%), and participation/paper discussion (10%).
• Field will be graded based on participation (40%) and original research project presentation (20%) and write-up (40%).
• Missing a required weekend fieldtrip results in a one letter grade loss from the field component of the course (i.e. from maximum grade of A to maximum grade of B).

• Cheating on an exam will result in failure of the course and may result in further University discipline.
• Late assignments lose 10%.
• Punctuality.  Be on time.  Because the labs require setup and field observation of (hopefully) cooperative animals, it is impossible to make up missed labs.
• Withdrawal Policy.  The Biology Deparetment withdrawal policy states: "Unrestricted withdrawals are permitted only until the end of the third week. Thereafter, requests to drop a class will be honored only when a verifiable serious and compelling reason exists and when there is no viable alternative to withdrawal.  Poor performance is NOT an acceptable reason for withdrawal.  During the last three weeks of the semester withdrawals will not be approved except when a student is withdrawing from ALL classes for verifiable medical reasons."
• Cell phones and generally obnoxious behaviors are not allowed in the field (or in class for that matter).