Christian Brothers University
Biol 381Departmental Syllabus
 Animal Behavior

Catalog Data and Goals The Animal Behavior course is the study of the mechanisms and evolution of animal behavior.  Topics include methods for the observation and quantification of behavior, natural selection and evolution of behavior, behavior genetics, neural and physiological mechanisms of behavior, communication, aggression, sexual reproduction, parental investment, and mating systems. 
The course is an upper-level biology elective appropriate for junior and senior biology majors and others interested in zoology, animal science, and experimental psychology. 
You will need to read the assigned material before you come to class.  You will need your textbook and Supplement with you during most class meetings.  Your active participation in class presentations and discussions will be expected.  A cooperative and open atmosphere is expected during class meetings.  Students are encouraged to study together.  The classroom will be open for extra review during posted hours.
  • Lecture: 3 credits. (Usually Tues. and Thurs. 11:00-12:15 in S216.)
  • This course is a Group III Biology Elective applicable to the biology major. The course is offered only during even numbered Spring semesters. 
Textbooks and
References
  • Required Text: 

    • Drickamer, Lee C., Stephen H. Vessey, and Doug Meikle.  1996.  Animal Behavior:  Mechanisms, Ecology, and Evolution.  Fourth edition.  Wm. C. Brown, Publisher.  ISBN 0-697-13642-6
  • Required Supplement:

    • Ross, Anna E.Biology 381 Animal Behavior Course Supplement.  CBU Printing Services.
  • Readings: 

    • Sherman, Paul W. and John Alcock, eds.  1997.  Exploring Animal Behavior:  Readings from American Scientist.  2nd ed.  Sinauer Associates, Inc.  ISBN 0-87893-766-8
  • Digital course materials: 

    • Animal Behavior Course Web Site
    Digital Images, lecture slides, student Reports, etc.:  Available to CBU students on the shared directory \\valshare\biology
Prerequisites by Topic The student should have developed the reading, writing, and study skills required for upper division course work in biology. The prerequisite years of college biology with laboratory should include an introduction to the evolution, life cycles, behavior, ecology, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, and development of animals. 
Prerequisite
Courses		 Junior or Senior standing.
BIOL 111-112 (Principles of Biology I and II and labs) and at least 4 additional hours of Biology beyond the Freshman level. 
  • Students who have not achieved grades of "C" or better in each of the prerequisite courses are advised to repeat the necessary courses before attempting further course work in biology. 
Professor and
Course Coordinator		 Dr. Anna E. Ross, Associate Professor of Biology. 
  • Home page: http://www.cbu.edu/~aross 
  • Office: Science Building Room 203G 

    • Office Phone: 901-321-3436 
    Email: aross@cbu.edu
    Usual office hours for Spring Semester: Monday and Friday 2:00-5:30; Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-5:30.   Additional times by appointment.
Schedule for the Course
Class #
 Topic Text Chapter
1-2
3-4
5
6
7
 Introduction and History
History and Approaches [Sign-up for Topic 1]
Methods [Draft 1 Due]
Genes and Evolution
EXAM 1
Unit 1 Readings:  Part I; Branscomb; Woodward; Gopen		 1
2-3, 11
3
4
(1-3, 11)
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
 Evolution of Behavior [Report 1 Due]
Evolution of Behavior Patterns
Evolution; Kin Selection
Behavior Genetics
Behavior Genetics  [Draft 2 Due]
Nervous System and Behavior [Report 2 Due]
EXAM 2 
Unit 2 Readings:  Hrdy; Holekamp; Griffin; Blum; Gould; Shear; Borgia		 4-5
5
5, 19
19, 6
6
7
(4-6, 19, Rept. 1)
15
16
17
18
19
 Nervous System and Behavior
Nervous System and Hormones
Hormones and Behavior  [Draft 3 Due]
Communication  [Report 3 Due]
EXAM 3
Unit 3 Readings:  Wingfield; Bass; May; Fenton; Winston		 7
7-8
8
12
(7-8, Rept. 2)
20
21-22
23
24
 Communication
Aggression
Sexual Reproduction
EXAM 4
Unit 4 Readings:  West; Mock; Heinrich.  Seyfarth & Cheney 1992 Sci. Amer.  Holmes & Sherman 1983 Amer. Sci.		 12
16
17
(12, 16, Rept.3)
25
26-27
28
 Sexual Reproduction
Reproduction and Mating Systems
Parental Investment
Unit 5 Readings:  Hrdy; Borgia; Thornhill; Eberhard; Getz; Warner; Scott; Emlen; Honeycutt.  Marjerus 1986 Ecol and Evol.		 17
17-18
18
Exam week
 EXAM 5 (17, 18, Rept. 3)
     
Resources Extensive course resources are maintained on a shared directory \\valshare\biology available on campus and available off campus to those with a current CBU userid.  These resources include photos and movie clips of behavior, photos and illustrations for Report topics and lecture topics, links to WWW resources, and the PowerPoint lecture slides.  An archive of past and current Student Reports and student Powerpoint presentations is also maintained in the shared directory.
  • Course related materials are maintained in S216.  The room is available to students enrolled in this course during posted daytime hours and additionally during early evening hours by arrangement with Dr. Ross.  Informal study and review sessions for Dr. Ross's courses are held in room S216 several times a week.  Successful students spend at least two hours a week working in S216 in addition to the scheduled class and lab sessions.  (The current room S216 schedule is posted on the room's door, at Dr. Ross's home page)  Materials available for student use in room S216 include: 
    • Animal behavior textbooks and references (ethology dictionaries).
    • Recent issues of animal behavior journals (including:  Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology, American Scientist, etc.).
    • Bound volumes of Scientific American articles related to animal behavior.
    • Reprints files of animal behavior papers (maintained as sources for student Reports).
    • Animal behavior books:  symposium volumes, etc.
    • Classic publications in animla behavior
    • Bound volumes of student reports from previous classes.
    • Computers with internet connection (additional computers for Biology students are in room S213). 
The course has been structured to afford you every opportunity to master the required material and to demonstrate your success in that endeavor. Students who enroll in this course are seeking rigorous pre-professional preparation. Nevertheless, you need not feel intimidated by the demanding career path you have selected. Dr. Ross is available a minimum of 10 hours per week outside of class and lab to help you overcome any difficulties you may have with the course material and to help you do your best work. 
Attendance Attendance is required. 
[CBU professors are required to take attendance and submit attendance records to the registrar.]
You are responsible for all information presented during lecture, during class discussions, and presentations by fellow students.  Additionally, you are responsible for all material covered in the reading assignments and in class handouts prepared by the professor and by your fellow students.  Lecture-Discussion attendance is required.  Attendance at exams is required.  If you miss class for any reason you are expected to inform me and you are responsible for making up the missed work on your own time.  Unexcused absences will lower your grade.  Excessive absences are grounds for automatic failure.
Exams and Grades Your grade in the course will be determined by your own achievement. There is no curve. 
  • Each lecture exam is worth 100 points. 
  • Reports are worth 35 points each. 
  • Grading scale: 90.0-100+% = A, 80.0-89.9% = B, 70.0-79.9% = C, 60.0-69.9% = D, below 60.0% = F.

    • Makeup exams will only be available under extraordinary circumstances. 
Exams:
Five exams will be given.  Each exam will count 100 points.  No exam may be dropped.  Makeup exams will only be available under extraordinary circumstances. 
  • If you miss an exam without prior arrangement and fail to notify me before noon the day of the scheduled exam time to arrange a specific time for a make up exam, you will not be eligible for a makeup exam and you will receive a zero for the missed exam.  Ordinarily, no makeup exams are granted and a student will be allowed no more than one makeup exam for the course.  Ordinarily, a makeup exam must be completed prior to the next meeting of the class.  If you need special consideration, please ask.
Exams will cover the topics indicated on the attached schedule unless specific changes are announced in class.  Each exam will cover material from lecture, Reports prepared by fellow students, class presentations, discussions, handouts, reading assignments, and the text.  Exams will consist of objective, short answer, and specific essay questions.  Exam questions will always require detailed and precise responses employing the specialized terminology introduced in the course and answers may occasionally require well-labeled diagrams.  Note:  Exam dates will not be changed unless the majority of the class agrees.  Changes in the class schedule may be announced in class.  Topics not listed on the schedule may be covered by Reports.
Reports: 
Three short Reports (study guides) will be required during the semester.  Each report will be prepared and presented by at least two students working together.  All Final Reports are to be distributed to each member of the class as well as turned in to Dr. Ross.  Students will select specific subject areas related to the topics covered in the course textbook.  A Report may be an analysis or review of one or two papers published in scientific journals or books, a referenced review and critique of a video on animal behavior, or a referenced analysis of the students’ observational or experimental study of behavior.  The goal is that the Report will serve as a detailed and specific study guide for enrichment on a course topic.  Exams will include material covered in Reports.  Your Report must be organized with informational headings and subheadings (a topical outline format is recommended).  Reports may not be merely paragraphs of text but must include tables, charts, diagrams, or other study aides.  Final Reports must be typewritten, word-processed, or published on the course web site and should be more than three pages long (single spaced, not including Literature Cited, tables, and figures). 
Draft:  The first step is to work with your classmate and me to select a topic and find a reference paper.  To be sure you are on the right track and to prevent duplication of report topics, you are expected to discuss your idea for a topic and possible references with Dr. Ross (in person or via E-mail).  Next, you will prepare a draft of your report.  You will be required to schedule an appointment for a 30 minute meeting with Dr. Ross (the Draft Report deadlines are listed as “Draft # Due” on the course schedule).  All members of your team must attend.  During this meeting, you will hand in an outline or rough draft of your Report including reference citations.  (Ideally, you should submit your draft on disk or via E-mail prior to our meeting.  In any case, the draft should be typed or word-processed.)  We will discuss the details of your proposed Report for approval.  You will need to show me a copy of your major reference source (I’ll need to make a copy if it’s one I don’t have). 
On or before the Final Report due date, you will distribute a copy of the Final Report to each member of the class and to Dr. Ross (this copy will not be returned).  You and your classmate will later make a brief (5-10 min.) explanatory presentation of your Report and you will be expected to answer questions from your classmates and me.  PowerPoint and other multimedia presentations are encouraged.
Each Report can earn a maximum of 35 points:  5 points maximum for timely submission of the Draft (a detailed outline or rough draft including references), 20 points maximum for the Final Report, 10 points maximum for the in-class Presentation and answering questions.  No point credit will be earned for late Drafts, late Final Reports, or if one or both classmates are unprepared for the in-class presentation.  Satisfactory completion of all three Reports will be required to pass the course.
  • For more information about the Animal Behavior course, contact Dr. Ross: aross@cbu.edu.
[Revised June 2000 / AER]

    |Biology Dept|   |Biology Course Syllabi|
This page maintained by Dr. Anna E. Ross, CBU Biology Webmaster.