Course Level: This is a 500 level course, defined by the University Catalog as "intended primarily for graduate students...." This course will be taught at a graduate level appropriate for MS students with identical high expectations for both undergraduate and graduate students. Biology 322 (Evolution) or graduate standing are pre-requisites for enrollment. Undergraduate students who have not taken Biology 330/L (Design and Analysis of Experiments) and/or Biology 502/L (Biometry) or any of our upper division 300 or 400 level field courses may be at a disadvantage.
Course Objectives: This course is intended to provide students with an intensive examination of the modern field of behavioral ecology, that is, the quantitative analysis of behavior in an ecological and evolutionary framework. The course consists of lecture (ca. 2 hours/week), laboratory (ca. 3 hours/week), and fieldwork including an original research project (ca. 3 hours/week). Emphasis will be placed on hypothesis testing using both observational and experimental approaches.
Lecture (Bio. 528) will cover major topics in behavioral ecology, using Davies et al. 2012. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 4th Edition. [about $55 on Amazon, ISBN 1405114169].
We will also read selections of original literature and from Olivia Judson's fabulous Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation [about $11 on Amazon, ISBN 0805063323].
Lab (Bio. 528L) will serve several functions.
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, but you will receive only two grades, one for lecture and one for lab + field. Possible grades are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F.
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Monday | Wednesday | Other |
Jan 23 |
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Introductions; Behavior and the Darwinian paradigm (Ch. 1) |
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Jan 28, 30 |
Lecture: Economics and Optimality (Ch. 3) |
Repeatability Fieldwork (Santa Monica Mtns) repeatability.doc and repeatability.xls Lab report 1 (10 points) Background Paper |
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Feb 4, 6 |
Lecture: Signals and Signal Design (Ch. 14) |
Lecture: Fighting and Assessment (read pages 116-119, Ch. 5 and pages 397-405, Ch. 14) |
Elephant Seals Fieldtrip Feb 8, 9, 10; Lab report 3 (10 points) |
Feb 11, 13 |
Lecture: Competition for ecological resources (Ch. 5) |
Ideal Free Distribution Fieldwork (Gulls, Zuma Beach) Lab report 4 (10 points) |
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Feb 18, 20 |
Lecture: Predator-Prey, Coevolution (Ch. 4) |
Tutorial: Basic experimental design (read also Ch. 2 Testing Hypotheses in Behavioural Ecology); Tutorial: Using Powerpoint |
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Feb 25, 27 |
Lecture: Reproductive Conflict and Sexual Selection I (Ch. 7) |
Lecture: Reproductive Conflict and Sexual Selection II (Ch. 7) |
Algodones Dunes Fieldtrip Mar 1, 2, 3; Lab report 5 (10 points); Dr. Tatiana Sex Advice Presentations and Costume Party (20%) |
Mar 4, 6 |
Tutorial: Data analysis I, Data analysis II |
Project Idea Walkabout, Santa Monica Mtns |
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Mar 11, 13 |
Exam (40%) |
Project Proposals |
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Mar 18, 20 |
Lecture: Parental Care, Mating Systems (Chs. 8, 9) |
Lecture: Alternate Strategies (read pages 131-142, Ch. 5) Lab: Data presentation; IDF_Klepto2010.xls |
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Mar 25, 27 |
No Class, Project Work & Weekend Time Credit |
No Class, Project Work & Weekend Time Credit |
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Apr 1, 3 |
No Class, Cezar Chaves Holiday |
Project Updates |
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Apr 8, 10 |
No Class, Spring Break |
No Class, Spring Break |
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Apr 15, 17 |
No Class, Weekend Time Credit |
Lecture: Groups (Ch. 6); Lab: Paper Discussion: Hamilton 1971 |
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Apr 22, 24 |
Lecture: Kin Selection, Selfishness/Altruism (Ch. 11) |
Lecture: Cooperative Breeding, Sociality (Chs. 12, 13) Lab: Paper Discussion: Emlen 1995 |
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Apr 29, May 1 |
Lecture: Human Behavioral Ecology, read Winterhalder & Smith |
Project Work |
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May 6, 8 | Project Presentations | Exam (40%), Project Papers Due | |