Course Offerings

Animal Behavior

Below is the complete list of courses offered by the department.

266.  Animal Behavior (I; 3, 0)
A survey of important theories, issues, and empirical techniques in the interdisciplinary field of animal behavior emphasizing both proximate and ultimate mechanisms as explanations for behavior. Crosslisted as BIOL 266 and PSYC 266.

296.  Applied Research Methods Seminar in Animal Behavior (I or II; 0, 3*)
Laboratory and/or field research to accompany ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266 (Animal Behavior). Prerequisite: PSYC 215 and prerequisite or corequisite ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266. Crosslisted as PSYC 296.

317.  Comparative Animal Cognition (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. Prerequisites: ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266 and PSYC 203 or permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as PSYC 317.

319.  Topics in Animal Behavior (I and II; R; 3, 0) Half to full course.
Occasional seminars on selected topics of current interest in animal behavior. Prerequisites: ANBE/BIOL/PSYC 266, junior or senior status and permission of the instructor.

320.  Advanced Topics in Animal Behavior (I and II; R; 3, 0) Half to full course.
Culminating Experience seminar for senior animal behavior majors covering selected topics of current interest in animal behavior. Prerequisites: senior animal behavior major status.

321.  Behavioral Ecology (I; 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. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 321.

341.  Organic Evolution (AII; 3, 3)
The principles and mechanisms of evolution in plants and animals, covering population phenomena, speciation, life history strategies, adaptation, systematics, and biogeography. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 341.

342.  Neuroethology (I or II; 3, 0)
A course that integrates neurobiology and behavior in natural contexts. Emphasis on signal detection, recognition, discrimination, localization, orientation, and the control of complex acts. Neuronal and hormonal mechanisms, ontogeny and evolution of behavior will be considered. Prerequisites: BIOL 206, BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 342.

354.  Tropical Ecology (II; 3, 0)
Introduction to tropical ecology, including life history strategies of vertebrates and invertebrates, biodiversity management and conservation. Emphasis on class and individual projects, data collection, and journal keeping. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 354.

355.  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. Occasionally may be taught as a laboratory science. Prerequisites: BIOL 208 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL 355. Juniors and seniors only.

370.  Primate Behavior and Ecology (I; 3, 3*)
Introduction to research on prosimians, monkeys, and apes including diversity, social evolution, sexual selection, reproduction, social behavior, and cognitive abilities. Prerequisites: BIOL 122, or BIOL 208, or ANBE/BIOL/ PSYC 266 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as BIOL/PSYC 370.

371.  Primate Cognition (AI or AII; 3, 0*)
An investigation into the cognitive abilities and capacities of nonhuman primates emphasizing a comparative perspective. Prerequisites: ANBE 266 or BIOL 266 or PSYC 266 and permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as PSYC 371.

391.  Research (I, II, and S; R; 1-3*) Half to full course.
Independent research, with faculty supervision, in the study of animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

399.  Senior Thesis (I, II, and S; R; 2, 10*)
Original research leading to a thesis presentation on a topic related to the study of animal behavior. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Seniors only.

Courses offered occasionally
356 Plant Animal Interactions, 357 Ornithology