Teacher(s)

Hance Thierry (compensates Van Dyck Hans); Tougeron Kévin (compensates Van Dyck Hans); Van Dyck Hans; Visser Bertanne (compensates Van Dyck Hans);

Language

French

Main themes

1) History of behavioural ecology 2) Major concepts of behavioural ecology 3) Functional and mechanistic aspects of the study of behaviour 4) Theory, applications and discussion about a selection of issues (e.g. Living in group, Fight and assessment, Sexual conflict and sexual selection, Communication and the evolution of signals) 5) Behaviour and conservation biology 6) Behavioural ecology of the human species

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Behavioural ecology adopts an evolutionary approach for the study of behaviour; the relationships between behaviour, ecology and evolution are explored in this field of biology. The general objective is to develop a conceptual framework for studying and understanding animal behaviour from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. Students will be trained to formulate and test hypotheses by carefully analyzing and discussing observational and experimental behavioural ecological studies.

Content

This teaching unit focuses on the analysis and understanding of the approaches of behavioural ecology. The topcis that are covered include: 1) the history of behavioural ecology; 2) basic concepts of behavioural ecology; 3) functional and mechanistic factors explaining animal behaviour; 4) theory, applications and discussion of the approaches in this field applied to a selection of topics (p.ex. living in group, fights and evaluation - sexual conflict and sexual selection, communication and evalution of signals); and 5) behaviour and conservation.    

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

This teaching unit has two parts. There are lectures based on a series of PowerPoint presentations with frequent discussions with the students. There is also an individual practical part; each student has to prepare a report on a given topic within the field of restoration ecology. The presentations are available on the Moodle website of this teaching unit, as well as the information about the report and a number of scientific papers.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

There is a written exam on the theoretical part of the lectures with open questions (comprehension questions). For the practical course, the student has to prepare a report according to our guidelines. The theoretical exam counts for 75% of the final mark, the report for 25%. The student needs to get a sufficient score or mark (10/20 or more) for each part. It will not be tolerated to compensate an insufficient mark on one of the parts by a sufficient mark on the other.       

Online resources

Moodle website

Faculty or entity

BIOL