Animal Behavior (ANBE)

Graduate Studies

570-577-1200
www.bucknell.edu/AnimalBehavior

Coordinating Committee: Warren G. Abrahamson II, Ph.D. Harvard. Owen R. Floody, Ph.D. Rockefeller. Peter G. Judge (Director), Ph.D. Georgia. Kevin P. Myers, Ph.D. Duke.Elizabeth C. Evans, Ph.D Michigan State. DeeAnn Reeder, Ph.D. University of California Davis. Jennie Stevenson, Ph.D. University of North Carolina.

The program is intended primarily for those who hope to later earn a Ph.D. or wish to amplify their expertise in animal-related career, such as laboratory research, field research, or conservation biology. The program is administered by the departments of biology and psychology.

Admission Requirements

No specific undergraduate major is required, but successful candidate will demonstrate work in biology and/or psychology .

Required UG courses include core Biology courses and statistics. Recommended courses include Animal Behavior-related biology and/or Psychology courses and research methods. Minimum GPA in major is 3.0.

GRE scores required and subject GRE scores in biology and /or psychology encouraged

Program Description

The program requires two years of full-time work (including one summer) and consists of in residence course work in biology and psychology while conducting continuing research.

A minimum of eight courses approved by the adviser is required, two of which can be research hours, and the satisfactory completion of a research thesis.

Research programs for this degree do not involve human-animal interactions or animal training (i.e.,applied animal behavior).

Faculty Research Interests

Warren Abrahamson - Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Biology, Plant-insect interactions

Elizabeth Evans - Behavioral Biology, Insect behavior and Brain Structure

Peter Judge - Biopsychology, Primate social behavior and social cognition

Kevin Myers - Psychology, Learning and Motivation, Appetite in Rodents

DeeAnn Reeder - Comparative Behavior and Physiology, Stress Responsiveness of Bats

Jennie Stevenson - Hormone and Stress Physiology, Reward in Prairie Voles

Facilities and Resources

The facilities include well-equipped laboratory space for research entailing work with insects, laboratory rodents, bats, indoor and outdoor enclosures for four species of primates, and surgical and histological equipment. The program is also equipped to incorporate the use of physiological and genetic tools for the study of behavior.

Recent Graduate Projects

  • Absolute numerous judgments in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)
  • Affiliative post-conflict interactions among hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas): Testing the "relationship" hypothesis
  • Behavior of bats with white-nose syndrome
  • Behavioral correlates of salivary cortisol in hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas)
  • The influence of reconciliation on the quadratic post-conflict interactions of baboons (Papio hamadryas)
  • Picture recognition of food in brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)
  • Transport of appropriate tools from distant locations by capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella): Implications for working memory

Courses Offered

603. Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (I or II; 3, 0)
Relationship between the neuroendocrine system and animal behavior, including human behavior; incorporating and integrating evolutionary, developmental, and clinical perspectives. Crosslisted as BIOL 603.

613. Mammalogy (I; 3, 3*)
Biology of mammals, including evolution, classification, biodiversity, behavior, anatomy, physiology, ecology, and conservation. Lab will include specimen identification, preparation, and field study. Crosslisted as BIOL 613.

617. Learning and Adaptive Behavior (I or II; 3, 0)
Advanced seminar in issues of nature/nurture, learning, development, and adaptation, in behaviors such as foraging, mating, and communication in several species. Crosslisted as PSYC 617.

618. Comparative Physiology (I; 3, 0)
Compares the physiological mechanisms of animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate, from the standpoint of their evolutionary history and ecology. Crosslisted as BIOL 618.

621. Behavioral Ecology (II; 3, 0)
The consideration of behavioral adaptations to various ecological situations. Topics include habitat choice, foraging behavior, defenses against predation, mate choice, and brood care. Crosslisted as BIOL 621.

624. Analysis of Psychological Data (I or II; 3, 0)
Statistical analysis of experimental and correlational data. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as PSYC 624.

641. Organic Evolution (AI; 4, 0)
The principles and mechanisms of evolution in plants and animals, covering population phenomena, speciation, life history strategies, adaptation, systematics, and biogeography. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 641.

642. Neuroethology (II; 3, 0)
A course that integrates neurobiology and behavior in natural contexts. Emphasis in signal detection, recognition, discrimination, localization, orientation, and the control of complex acts. Neuronal and hormonal mechanisms, ontogeny and evolution of behavior will be considered. Crosslisted as BIOL 642.

653. Ecosystem Ecology (II; 3, 0)
The physical and biological mechanisms that structure natural populations, including nutrient cycling, energy flow, succession, species interactions, food webs and broader ecosystem and biogeographic processes. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 653.

654. Tropical Ecology (II; 3, 0)
Introduction to tropical ecology, including life history strategies of vertebrates and invertebrates, biodiversity management and conservation. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 654.

655. Social Insects (I; 3, 3)
Evolution and genetics of social behavior, caste, communication in foraging and colony defense, queen and worker control over reproduction, social homeostasis, and population dynamics. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 655.

656. Plant-Animal Interactions (I; 3, 3)
The coevolution and ecology of plants and animals covering pollination ecology, seed dispersal, plant-herbivore interactions, and habitat constraints on the behavioral ecology of animals. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 656.

660. Graduate Research (I or II; R) Half to full course
Graduate research in animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted with BIOL 660.

670. Primate Behavior and Ecology (I; 3, 3)
Introduction to research on prosimians, monkeys, and apes, including diversity,reproduction, social behavior, cognitive abilities. Crosslisted as BIOL/PSYC 670

680. Thesis (I, II; or S)
Preparation of a thesis leading to the M.S. degree.

686. Graduate Research (I or II) Half to full course
Graduate research in animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Crosslisted with PSYC 686.

691. Graduate Research (I or II) Half ot full course Graduate research in animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.