ECTS
ECTS Course Catalogue

Course details
Course code: BBS10128f12
Semester: 2012/2013 summer
Name: Animal Behaviour
Major: Biology
Study Type: first cycle
Course type: optional
Study Semester: 2
ECTS points: 2
Hours (Lectures / Tutorials / Other): 15 / 15 / 0
Lecturer: dr Irena Zwolińska-Bartczak
Language of instruction: Polish / English


Learning outcomes: Knowledge: Student: W1 – has a general knowledge on the different forms of animals’ behaviour (mainly mammals and birds) [KB_W07, KB_W08]; W2 – knows the genetic and physiological basis of animals’ behaviour [KB_W07, KB_W09]; W3 – describes a relation/association between animals’ behaviour and animals’ welfare [KB_W07, KB_W19]. Skills: Student: U1 – recognizes different forms of animals’ behaviour [KB_U10]; U2 – can observe of animals’ behaviour in their environment [KB_U6]; U3 – is able to interpret these behavioural observation of animals [KB_U6]; U4 – can prepare oral presentation on behavioural problems [KB_U18].

Competences: Personal and social competences (attitudes and behaviors): Student: K1 – can work in group and realize tasks in a team [KB_K02]; K2 – presents the proper relation towards the animals [KB_K07]; K3 – is sensitive to animals’ situation (as an element of nature) [KB_K04].

Prerequisites: zoology

Course content: Genetic and physiological basis of animals’ behaviour. Stress and its effect on animals’ reactions. Different forms of animal behaviour (sexual behaviour and customs of animals connected with reproduction, care-giving behaviour, role of territory in animal life, agonistic behaviour, investigatory behaviour, behaviour of sociable animals etc.). Rules of animal behaviour observations, problem of welfare and legal protection of wild animals.

Recommended literature: 1. Nowicki B., Zwolińska-Bartczak I.: Zachowanie się zwierząt gospodarskich, PWRiL, Warszawa 1983 (some chapters); 2. Sadowski B., Chmurzyński J., A.: Biologiczne mechanizmy zachowania. PWN, Warszawa, 2006; 3. Plomin R., DeFries J.,C.,McClearn G.,E.,Rutter M.: Behavioral Genetics. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York 1997 (some chapters) 4. Scott G.: Essential Animal Behavior. Blackwell Publishing, 2005.

Assessment methods: Oral presentation on animal behaviour (on the base of literature), two written tests. Presence during classes – obligatory. Final grade as arithmetic mean of above 3 assessments

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