EEB3811W: Animal Behavior in the Field

This field-intensive course takes place over 5 weeks in May/June at the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories in Itasca State Park. This course introduces the principal concepts of animal behavior through hypothesis-driven inquiry of animal systems in the field. Topics covered: proximate and ultimate causation of behavior, optimality, foraging, habitat selection, risk-sensitive behavior, antipredator behavior, courtship and territoriality, parental care and implications of animal behavior for resource management and conservation. Most class days begin with the introduction of a topic followed by a day-long field experiment involving the concept. Thus, students learn concepts in animal behavior and how to be an animal behaviorist. In the process, students acquire skills in data collection and management, and experimental design (controls, replication, conclusions based upon statistical inference, connecting class results to the primary literature). This course is designated as writing-intensive and therefore professional writing is an integral component of the course.

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