Animal Behavior (Biol 550)

Animal Behavior
Biology 550

Course Description & Issues to Consider

Professor: Melinda Novak

Office: Tobin Hall, rm 439

Office Hours: Tues and Thursday 4-5 PM

Phone: 545-2387; email: mnovak@psych.umass.edu

Course Description : This course will introduce you to the field of animal behavior. We will examine basic principles derived from evolution, ecology, ethology and development and use these principles to explain how and why animals behave as they do in particular situations. We will focus on many important biological activities such as foraging, communication, migration, predator-prey interactions, mating, and parental care. Because the field of animal behavior is so broad, this course will provide only a representative sampling of topics on a restricted number of species (e.g., birds and mammals). This is a demanding course both in terms of how much is covered and how much is required on the exams.

ISSUES TO CONSIDER WITH RESPECT TO STAYING IN THIS COURSE (Please read this section very carefully)

What background do I need to take this course? At a minimum, you must have taken the introductory course in biology and should be at least a sophomore majoring in a science field (biology, animal science, wildlife biology, psychology or biochemistry).

How hard is this course; how much time will I have to spend studying? This course covers a lot of material and requires extensive preparation for exams. You should expect to spend about 7-9 hours per week outside of class learning the material presented in lecture and text. Please note that simply reading your notes, no matter how many times you do it, is not an effective way to learn and know the material.

What will I have to know for the exams? To do well on the exams, you will need to:

Learn the various concepts, theories, and hypotheses used in the course and to understand the subtle differences that differentiate some concepts, theories, and hypotheses from each other.
Remember the findings from specific studies and be able to interpret their significance.
Understand various mathematical calculations and be able to perform such calculations.
Demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge of previous examples to new examples presented in exam questions.

Must I have access to a computer? Yes. Having a computer is a requirement because this course has a web site that you will need to access before every class.

Can I use my laptop computer in class? In general, no. Computer screens are distracting to other students in the class particularly if you are doing something other than taking notes. If you urgently need to use a computer, you should sit in the last row of the auditorium.

How important is class attendance; can't I just read the book? Class attendance is extremely important. Approximately 60-70% of the lecture material will be new (that is, not covered in your text). The only way to get this information is to attend class. Furthermore, you will also see videoclips that will not be available on the web site and receive special handouts.

If the lecture is emphasized, do I need to buy the text? Having access to the text is essential for good performance in the class. You will also be expected to know the material contained in the text that is NOT covered in class. This material includes not only the assigned pages but also all graphs and figures on those pages. To help you organize and think about the text material, I will provide you with study questions which will appear on the link labeled "Text."

Do I need to bring anything to class? Yes. To help you understand the lecture material, I will provide detailed "lecture notes" which will be posted on the "Class Notes" page of the web site the evening prior to each class. The lecture notes will not be complete, rather there will be spaces for you to fill in and graphs for you to draw as the discussion proceeds. I urge you to look over the lecture notes prior to coming to class. This will enable you to spend more time thinking about, seeing, listening, and discussing the material rather than scribbling notes. The notes follow the powerpoint slides that I will use in class. The powerpoint slides will not be available on the web site because of copyright issues.

What happens if I miss a class; can I get the completed lecture notes; how do I see the videos? If you have to miss a class because of an emergency or illness, you are responsible for getting the completed notes for that day, learning about any announcements, and picking up handouts or assignments. You can obtain the handouts or assignments from the TAs. You can come to my office hours to review the videoclips that you missed. The TAs will provide you with copies of the lecture notes for a particular lecture if we either know in advance that you will be away (e.g., for excused athletic events) or if you subsequently indicate that were ill. Requests for copies of two or more lectures require a documented medical excuse for the dates being requested.

What happens if the final exam for this course is late in the final exam period, and I plan to leave early or my home institution requires a grade before the final exam date? If you cannot be here through the entire final exam period (May 6 - May 13) or if you are a graduating senior from Mt. Holyoke, Amherst, or Smith Colleges and require that a grade be submitted prior to the final exam date, you should not take this course. I will not be able to give any early final exams. Please note that the final exam in this course is is often scheduled for either the next to the last or the last day of the final exam period. I have no idea why this happens.

Produced and maintained by Melinda Novak (mnovak@psych.umass.edu)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
last updated - 1/05/05