BIO 46000: Animal Behavior
Syllabus
Winter 2014
NAC 5/101
11:00 – 12:30pm and 2-3pm; 2 – 23 January 2014
The course webpage is on Blackboard. It is each student’s responsibility to make sure that they receive
messages sent via Blackboard.
Catalog description: The biological basis of behavior, with emphasis on such topics as the development,
evolution, genetics and ecology of behavior; sensory physiology; social behavior and communication.
Prerequisite: Bio 102 or Bio 228
Hours/credits: 3 credits
Instructor:
Dr. David Lohman, Assistant Professor
Office: Marshak 817; Telephone: 212-650-8456
Office hours: By appointment
E-mail: [email protected]
Webpage: http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/lohman/
Required Textbook:
Dugatkin, Lee A. 2013. Principles of Animal Behavior, 3rd Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 648 pp.
Course objectives (overview and philosophy): The study of animal behavior brings together research on
the proximate causes of behavior, such as genetics, neurobiology, and endocrinology, as well as the
ultimate functions of behaviors that affect an animal’s evolutionary fitness. The course will focus on theory
and experimental/observational hypothesis testing, with many examples from nature. Lectures will be
complemented by nature documentaries, and two field trips during which students will make observations
and collect data.
Course learning outcomes
After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Understand differences between proximate and ultimate functions of behavior.
2. Understand how zebra finches and other birds learn their songs.
3. Understand the various forms of sexual selection
4. Understand animal communication including the dance language of Apis mellifera, the honeybee.
5. Calculate optimal decisions made by foraging animals.
6. Understand inclusive fitness and factors involved in the evolution of eusociality.
7. Be able to generate testable research questions from observations.
8. Be able to design a controlled experiment to test a hypothesis.
9. Understand how natural selection can shape adaptations of animals to their natural habitats.
Biology 46000 Syllabus, Winter 2014
Grading Policy:
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final exam
Field Trip 1 Project
Field Trip 2 Project
Kin Selection Problem Set
Foraging Problem Set
Movie Quizzes (9 quizzes, lowest grade is not included)
Participation
20 %
20 %
20 %
5%
5%
5%
5%
15 %
5%
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the following table will be used to compute the final grade:
A+ 99 –100%
A
93 – 98%
A- 90 – 92%
B+ 87 – 89%
B
83 – 86%
B- 80 – 82%
C+ 77 – 79%
C
73 – 76%
C- 70 – 72%
D+ 67 – 69%
D
63 – 66%
D- 60 – 62%
F
0 – 59%
The final grade will be a composite of the assessments and participation as noted above. If you know that
you will miss an exam or field trip, contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can take the exam
in advance. Make-up exams will be allowed only for documented excused absences (e.g., death in the
family, extreme sickness).
Grammar, spelling, and composition: Because scientists must be able to express themselves in written
prose, students must use proper spelling, grammar (including punctuation), and composition. Unintelligible
sentences and illegible answers will be given no credit. Paragraphs must be composed of organized,
coherent thoughts and include a lead sentence (proper composition). The instructors are available during
office hours or by appointment to answer questions regarding grammar and composition.
Lecture: There will be two examinations during the semester plus a non-comprehensive final exam over the
last four lectures. Each exam will test material covered in lecture, textbook, and movies. Read the book
beforehand and come prepared. Because the later material in this course builds on information presented
earlier in the semester (and to promote long-term retention of material), later exams will necessarily include
both new material and selected topics from earlier sections.
Page 2
Biology 46000 Syllabus, Winter 2014
Academic Integrity
The CUNY Policy on plagiarism says the following about plagiarism (the CUNY Policy can be found in
Appendix B.3 of the CCNY Undergraduate Bulletin 2009 -2011;
http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/about/upload/academic_integrity.pdf):
“Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following
are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:
1. Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing
the words to their source.
2. Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
3. Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
4. Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
5. Internet plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers,
paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting and
pasting from various sources without proper attribution.”
The City College Faculty Senate has approved a procedure for addressing violations of academic integrity,
which can also be found in Appendix B.3 of the CCNY Undergraduate Bulletin.”
Be aware that if we suspect plagiarism we will report your conduct to the College’s Academic Integrity
Official. Disciplinary sanctions range from failing the class to expulsion from the college.
Attendance Policy: Lectures and movies will begin promptly, and you are required to be on time.
Attendance at all lectures, movies, and field trips is required. Absence from more than two class periods
(including field trips) can result in your being dropped from the course for excessive absences (WU).
Disability Policy: In compliance with CCNY policy and equal access laws, appropriate accommodations
are administered by the AccessAbility Center. Students who register with AccessAbility, and are entitled to
specific accommodations, must request a letter from AccessAbility to present to the Professor that states
what their accommodations are. If specific accommodations are required for a test, students must present
an “Exam Administration Request Form” from AccessAbility, at least one week prior to the test date in order
to receive their accommodations.
Support Facilities: The Departmental Resource Center is in Room MR-502.
Lecture PDFs
PDFs of the lecture slides will be available before each lecture. These pdfs will be password encrypted.
You will be given the password in class and can write it here:
___________________________________________________________
Page 3
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
13 Jan
14 Jan
15 Jan
16 Jan
Movie: Evolve—Evolution of Communication
Movie: Tales from the Hive
Lecture: Communication
Lecture: Honey Bee Dance Language
FINAL EXAM
Lecture: Cooperation and Mutualism
Movie: Trials of Life 3—Finding Food
MLK Day – NO CLASS
Movie: Wild City of Ants
Lecture: Orientation and Navigation
Lecture: Sexual Selection
Lecture: Mating Systems
EXAM 2
Lecture: Foraging
MLK Day – NO CLASS
2 -3 PM
Movie: Bowerbids—The Art of Seduction
Movie: Evolve—How Eyes Evolved
Movie: The Disappearing Male
Field Trip: AMNH Butterfly Conservancy
Lecture: Learning
Movie: The Life of Birds—Signals & Songs
Movie: Great Migrations—The Science of
Migrations
Movie: Evolution—Why Sex?
Field Trip: Central Park Zoo
Lecture: Kinship & Eusociality
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Lecture: What is Animal Behavior?
Lecture: Evolution of Behavior
Lecture: Hormones & Neurobiology
Lecture: Genetics & Development
EXAM 1
Lecture: Bird Song
Instructor (person who prepared this description): Assistant Professor David J. Lohman
Date Modified: 30 December 2013
22 Jan Wed
23 Jan Thu
20 Jan Mon
21 Jan Tue
17 Jan Fri
Day
Thurs
Fri
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Date
2 Jan
3 Jan
6 Jan
7 Jan
8 Jan
9 Jan
10 Jan
Reading
Dugatkin: Chapter 1
Dugatkin: Chapter 2
Dugatkin: Chapter 3
Dugatkin: Chapter 4
Dugatkin: Chapter 5
Paper
Foraging Problem Set Due
@ 11 AM; Movie Quiz
Movie Quiz
Dugatkin: Chapter 13
Paper
Movie Quiz
AMNH Field Trip Project @
11 AM; Movie Quiz
Paper
Movie Quiz
Dugatkin: Chapter 7
Dugatkin: Chapter 8
Dugatkin: Chapter 9
CPZ Field Trip Project @
Dugatkin: Chapter 10
11 AM; Movie Quiz
Kin Selection Problem Set
Due @ 11 AM; Movie Quiz Dugatkin: Chapter 11
Assignment
Movie Quiz
Movie Quiz
Movie Quiz
Schedule of assessments and topics covered in class (subject to change at the instructor’s discretion):