Behavioral Ecology

Catalog description

An in-depth examination of the evolution of animal behavior via natural selection with a on the adaptive significance (i.e., fitness consequences) of behaviors involved in foraging, resource defense, cooperation, mating, parental care, and communication. Predator-prey interactions, animal sociality, and approaches to studying behavioral ecology are recurrent topics. Involves a substantial field component where students learn to observe, document, and quantify animal behavior in the wild. 2 hrs. lec., 3 hrs. lab/field. Prereq: C- or higher in BIOL 343. BIOL 385 recommended.