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ANB 218a 2013


Fundamentals of Animal Behavior

Fall 2013



Instructor: Jeff Schank (original instructor: Don Owings)

Email: jcschank@ucdavis.edu

Office: 268D Young Hall

Phone: 752-6332

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:50 and by appointment


Course description: This is the first of a two-quarter sequence. PSC/ANB 218B will be offered Winter 2014, and led by Andy Sih, Environmental Science and Policy.  The goal of this course is to sample current and traditional topics in the field of animal behavior. You will learn about the basic phenomena, concepts, and theoretical approaches of animal behavior, but no two-quarter sequence can provide the entire breadth and depth of animal behavior.


When:

Speakers:  TTR: 2:10 PM to 4:00 PM

Discussion:  TTR: 4:10 PM to 5:00 PM

Adjustments: Due to the nature of this course adjustments may be required for some speakers and discussion.


Where:

Lectures: 145 Young Hall (with possible exceptions)

Discussion: 145 Young Hall


Grading:

40% from position papers and leading discussion (you will write 3 papers and lead or co-lead 2 discussions), 15% from review papers on 3 of the position papers (you will write 3 review papers on 3 of the discussion papers), 20% participation in discussions, 25% final exam


Course Website:

http://www.agent-based-models.com/

Look under the “Courses” menu.


Course details:

(1) As noted below, different topics will be the responsibility of different speakers. Each speaker has been asked to lecture on the assigned topic, and then moderate a 1-hour (when possible) with a student-led discussion on the topic.

(2) This means that you, the students, will be leading the discussions (this task will rotate among you).  Because of the number of people registered, there will often be co-discussants. Please be thinking about what topic you would prefer.

(3) Each speaker will provide readings prior to the beginning of his/her lectures. Please prepare for lectures by reading that material.

(4) Each speaker will assign the associated discussion topic at the beginning of his/her lectures.

(5) Preparation for each discussion will involve

   
   (a) reviewing the lecture and reading material so that
       you can lead the discussion, but everyone else is expected
       to join in (this is the main part of the 20% participant 
       discussion);

   (b) for a subset of you each time, you will write a 
       short position paper on the topic (no longer than 2 
       single-spaced pages)that you will circulate to all 
       parties to read exactly one week  after the topic is 
       discussed. You should look into additional reading 
       and include references for these papers.  You will send 
       it using the class email list:  anb218a-f13@ucdavis.edu; and

  (c)  A subset of you, will write a short review of the 
       position paper (between 1/2 and 1 page 
       spaced pages).  The review will briefly
       discuss the the strong points of the position 
       paper and the weak points (e.g., "I think the author
       should have included more about X", or "I do not 
       think that topic X is fundamental to the topic."
       or "I think that that X is better, explained or 
       articulated as this...").  The short review will 
       be due 3 days after you receive the discussion paper.
       You will send out your review using the
       class email list:  anb218a-f13@ucdavis.edu.

 


CLASS SCHEDULE – FALL, 2013

Fundamentals of Animal Behavior (ANB/PSC218A – Schank Instructor)

Lecture times – TTR, 2:10-4:00 PM; Discussion times – TTR, 4:10-5:00 PM


1. Thursday – Sept 26. 1 – Organize  Jeff Schank

2. Tuesday – Oct. 1 –  Communication, Gail Patricelli (4:10 – 6:00 PM)

   Readings
        (1) Signaling
        (2) Avian psychology and communication

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio/assignments:pdf_icon  (26.9 MB)

3. Thursday – Oct. 3 – Communication,  Gail Patricelli (4:10 – 6:00 PM)

   Readings
        (1) Complex signal function: developing a framework of testable hypotheses.
        (2) What do animal signals mean?
        (3) The central importance of information in studies of animal communication.
        (4) Information and Communication

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  (26.8 MB)

4. Tuesday – Oct. 8 – No Lecture

5. Thursday – Oct. 10 –  Double Lecture

Quantitative genetics, Andy Sih (2:10 – 4:00 PM)

   Readings
        (1) Multivariate inheritance and evolution: a review of concepts
        (2) The genetics of fish behavior
        (3) The genetics of politics: discovery, challenges, and progress
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: power_point_icon 

Communication,  Gail Patricelli  (4:10 – 6:00 PM)

   Readings
        (1) Animal Signals: Models and Terminology.
        (2) The cost of honesty and the fallacy of the handicap principle

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  assignmentpdf_icon

6. Tuesday – Oct 15 –  Quantitative genetics, Andy Sih

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:  (30.3)
   Discussion – Andy Sih 
        – Quantitative genetics
        – Dicussion Leader(s):  Alex
        – Audio: 
   Discussion – Gail Patricelli
       – Communication
       – Dicussion Leader(s): Brandi, Alli
       – Audio:  (22.1 MB)

7. Thursday Oct. 17 – Genomics, Brian Trainor

   Readings
        (1) Natural variations in maternal care are associated with estrogen
            receptor expression and estrogen sensitivity in the medial preoptic area.
        (2) Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats.
        (3) Gene expression profiles in the brain predict
            behavior in individual honey bees.

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon (1 slide)pdf_icon (3 slides)  (24 MB)

8. Tuesday Oct. 22 – Concepts and Methods,  Jeff Schank

   Readings
        (1) On the aims and methods of ethology
        (2) Pseudoreplication and the Design of Ecological
            Experiments
        (3) Pseudoreplication is a Pseudoproblem

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: power_point_icon  (26.7 MB)
   Discussion – Brian Trainor
       – Genomics
       – Discussion Leader(s): Mitch
       – Audio:  (10.3 MB)

9. Thursday Oct. 24 – Behavioral endocrinology, Tom Hahn

   Readings
     (1) Hormonal control and evolution of alternative male phenotypes: 
         generalizations of models of sexual differentiation
     (2) The role of sex steroids in the acquisition
         and production of birdsong
     (3) The organizational-activational hypothesis as the
         foundation for a unified theory of sexual 
         differentiation of all mammalian tissues
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  (30 MB)
   Discussion – Jeff Schank
       – Concepts and Methods
       – Discussion Leader(s): Alli

10. Tuesday Oct. 29 – Behavioral endocrinology, Tom Hahn

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon 

11. Thursday Oct. 31 – Behavioral Schedules, Tom Hahn

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  part 1, part 2
   Discussion – Tom Hahn
        – Behavioral endocrinology
        – Discussion Leader(s): Shannon 
        – Audio:  (18.1 MB)

12. Tuesday Nov. 5 – Behavioral Schedules, Tom Hahn

   Readings
     (1) Experimental ‘Jet Lag’ Inhibits Adult Neurogenesis and
         Produces Long-Term Cognitive Deficits in Female
         Hamsters
     (2) Circadian clocks and the measurement of daylength in
         seasonal reproduction
     (3) Organization of vertebrate annual cycles:
         implications for control mechanisms
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:  (29 MB)

13. Thursday  Nov. 7 – Agent-Based Models of Behavior, Jeff Schank

    Readings
        (1) Agent-based modeling as a bridge between disciplines
        (2) Avoiding synchrony as a strategy of female mate choice
        (3) SWAMP: an agent-based model for wetland and waterfowl
            conservation management

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: power_point_icon  (26.9 MB)
   Discussion – Tom Hahn
        – Behavioral Schedules
        – Discussion Leader(s): Ryane

14. Tuesday Nov. 12 – Conservation and Animal Behavior, John Eadie

    Readings
        (1) Animal behavior and conservation biology
        (2) Behavioural biology: an effective and relevant
            conservation tool
        (3) Endangered species and a threatened discipline: 
            behavioural ecology
        (4) Behavior and conservation: a bridge too far?
        (5) The behaviour–conservation interface
    Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon    (28.6 MB)
    Discussion – Jeff Schank
        – Agent-based models of behavior
        – Discussion Leader(s): Alex
        – Audio:  (10.7 MB)

15. Thursday  Nov. 14 – Animal Welfare – YeunShin Lee

    Readings
        (1) Evolution and animal welfare
        (2) Using behavior to assess animal welfare
        (3) A user's guide to animal welfare science
        (4) Conflicting and complementary ethics of
            animal welfare considerations in reintroductions
     Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  Bibliography
     – Audio:  (25.1 MB)
    Discussion – John Eadie
        – Conservation and Animal Behavior
        – Discussion Leader(s): Brandi
        – Audio:  (12.9 MB)

16. Tuesday  Nov. 19 – Animal Welfare — YeunShin Lee

Readings

    Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:  (27.5 MB)

17. Thursday Nov. 21 – Social bonding: evolution, physiology, neurobiology, and development  – Karen Bales

   Readings
      (1) Developmental experiences and the oxytocin receptor system
      (2) Chronic Intranasal Oxytocin Causes Long-Term Impairments in 
          Partner Preference Formation in Male Prairie Voles      
      (3) Intranasal vasopressin affects pair bonding and peripheral 
          gene expression in male Callicebus cupreus
      (4) Natural variation in early parental care correlates with 
          social behaviors in adolescent prairievoles (Microtus ochrogaster)
      (5) Neural correlates of pair-bonding in a monogamous primate
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon 
   Discussion – YeunShin Lee
        – Animal Welfare
        – Discussion Leader(s): Mitch, Shannon
        – Audio  (16.1 MB)

18. Tuesday Nov. 26 – Play – Jeff Schank

   Readings
      (1) Current perspectives on the biological study of play:
          signs of progress
      (2) Animal play and animal welfare
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio:pdf_icon  (29.9 MB)
   Discussion – Karen Bales
        – Social bonding: evolution, physiology, neurobiology, and development
        – Discussion Leader(s): TBA

19. Thursday Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving Break

20. Tuesday Dec. 3 – Movement and Migration – Marilyn Ramenofsky

   Readings
     (1) Behavioral and physiological conflicts in migrants:
         the transition between migration and breeding
     (2) Contributions of endocrinology to the migration
         life history of birds
     (3) Regulation of migration
   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: power_point_icon  (26.2 MB)  References
   Discussion – Jeff Schank – Play – Discussion Leader(s): Ryane
   – Audio:  (17 MB)

21. Thursday Dec. 5 – Movement and Migration – Marilyn Ramenofsky

   Slides/Lecture Notes/Audio: power_point_icon  (43.2 MB)  References
   Discussion – Marilyn Ramenofsky – Movement and Migration 
   – Discussion Leader(s): Brandi

FINAL EXAM – Dec. TBA  take home (Tentative)