Course Schedule

PSY/BIO 226: Comparative Animal Behavior

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Class Schedule

Readings indicated below should be read on or before the date they appear. The instructor reserves the right to alter this schedule or other terms of the syllabus as she deems necessary. Mark the dates of quizzes, assignments, and exams in your calendar now. Be sure to let me know in advance of any known conflicts.

*A: Alcock text; W: Wilson text

DAY	DATE	TOPIC	READING	In-Class	DUE THAT DAY
W	23-Jan	Introduction to the Course; Asking Questions About Behavior	W: Ch. 1-3; A: Ch. 1-2; handout on methods The significance of animal behavior research ; Another example of the 4 questions; Comparative Psychology vs Ethology; 4 Questions Revisited.	lecture; video	Study for quiz!
F	25-Jan	Answering Questions About Behavior: "Research Methods in a Zoo Setting"	Handouts; Dan Moriarty's Research Methods in Animal Behavior	Quiz 1 (on syllabus); practice methods; Receive 1st Writing Assignment; In addition, read first 4 paragraphs of this website	nothing
M	28-Jan	Points of View: Evolution	A: Ch. 6; W: Ch. 4-7	lecture	nothing
W	30-Jan	Points of View: Evolution, contin.	University of Michigan's Global Change program, review of evolution and natural selection	Get M&M Evolution Homework	nothing
Th	31-Jan	Last day to add without having to pay a late fee
F	1-Feb	Answering the 1st of the Four Questions: How Does Behavior Develop? Behavioral Ontogeny	A: Ch. 3	lecture	nothing
S	2-Feb	*Groundhog Day!*	Celebrate this unique animal behavior holiday by hugging your favorite animal!
M	4-Feb	Behavior Genetics	(If you need a review of some basic genetics, try these notes from North Dakota State University)	PTC Paper demo	*First Writing Assignment!*
T	5-Feb	Mardi Gras!	Don't celebrate TOO much!
W	6-Feb	Behavior Genetics, contin.	Read Dr. Kerry Kilburn's lecture notes on the role of genes in the development of behavior	lecture	M&M Evolution Homework Summary
Th	7-Feb	Chinese New Year!	Celebrate the start of the Year of the Rat!
F	8-Feb	Answering the 2nd of the Four Questions: What is the proximate cause of the behavior? The Machinery of Behavior	A: Ch. 4; read about how bats work here	lecture	*Study for quiz 2!*
M	11-Feb	The Machinery of Behavior, contin.	Read about remote-controlled rats	lecture; Get "design a bug" homework	Study for quiz 2!
T	12-Feb	Darwin's Birthday!		It is also President Lincoln's birthday and Prof. Leibowitz' birthday--be sure to wish her a happy one!
W	13-Feb	The 1st of the Four Questions: What Makes Behavior Occur? Hormones and Behavior	A: Ch. 5	*Quiz 2;* lecture	"Design a bug" homework ; Study for Exam!
Th	14-Feb	Valentine's Day!		Happy Valentine's Day from me and Zucchini!
F	15-Feb	Hormones and Behavior, contin. ------ Last day to register for Pass/Grade/Fail	-----	Betta fish lab; *Get 1st Take-Home Exam!*	nothing
M	18-Feb	Presidents' Day The Idea of Instinct	Read about FAP's here	lecture	nothing
W	20-Feb	Behavioral Ontongeny: Learning as a Proximate Mechanism	handout	lecture	nothing
F	22-Feb	Learning, contin.	The Misbehavior of Organisms; Paul Kenyon's review of the nature/nurture controversy in animal behavior	lecture; Get 2nd Writing Assignment	1st Take-Home Exam!
M	25-Feb	Why the Deer and the Antelope Play	handout; also, read about play at the National Zoo newsletter website	lecture	nothing
W	27-Feb	Sensory Processes and the Idea of "Umwelt"	W: Ch. 8-10; handouts	lecture	nothing
F	29-Feb	Leap Year! (Ask Prof. Berg how old he is today!) Sensory Processes, contin.	handouts	lecture	*2nd Writing Assignment*
M	3-Mar	Sensory Processes, contin.	------	video	nothing
W	5-Mar	Solving the Trials of Life: Finding a Place to Live	A: Ch. 8; handouts; read Dr. Neil Greenberg's notes on habitat selection here. also, some notes on dispersal	lecture; pillbug taxis experiment	nothing
F	7-Mar	Finding a Place to Live, contin.	Read Dr. Ed Murphy's notes on habitat selection here; and here ; Also, read Dr. Gary Ritchison's notes on territoriality	video	*Study for quiz 3!*
*WEEK OF*	10-Mar to 14-Mar		*SPRING BREAK!* Have a relaxing one!
M	17-Mar	*Evacuation Day!* St. Patrick's Day! Solving the Trials of Life: Finding Food	A: Ch. 7; W: Ch. 11	lecture	Study for quiz 3!
W	19-Mar	Finding Food, contin.	W: Ch. 12, 13; read this website and play the foraging game; be able to answer all questions at this site	Quiz 3; lecture	nothing
Th	20-Mar	*First Day of Spring!*	Mawlid an-Nabi *(Happy Birthday, Muhammed!)*
F	21-Mar	Purim *Last day to drop without penalty* ---- Avoiding Being Eaten	-----	lecture; in-class predator demo; Get Take-Home Exam 2!	nothing
S	23-Mar	Easter Sunday	Don't eat too much chocolate!
M	24-Mar	Finding Food, contin.	Read Dr. Gary Ritchison's notes on foraging	video	nothing
W	26-Mar	Communication	A: Ch. 9; W: Ch. 13	lecture	nothing
F	28-Mar	Communication, contin.	read more about communication here	video	*Take-Home Exam 2!*
M	31-Mar	Sex and Reproduction	A: Ch. 10	lecture	nothing
W	2-April	Sex and Reproducation, contin.	A: Ch. 11	Video	nothing
F	4-April	Sex and Reproduction, contin.	Read Gary Ritchison's notes on sex here.	lecture	nothing
M	7-April	Sex and Reproduction, contin.	A: Ch. 12; Read Neil Greenberg's notes on sex and parenting	video	nothing
W	9-April	Parental Behavior	Read more on parenting here	lecture	nothing
F	11-April	Parental Behavior, contin.	Read about parent-offspring conflict here	lecture	nothing
M	14-April	Aggresssion and Social Conflict	Read Neil Greenberg's notes on aggression	lecture	nothing
W	16-April	The Evolution of Social Behavior	A: Ch. 13	lecture	nothing
F	18-April	Social Behavior, contin.	W: Ch. 14; Read Paul Kenyon's lecture notes on aggression;	lecture	Study for quiz 4!
S	20-Apr	Passover begins at sundown
M	21-April	Social Behavior, contin.	W: Ch. 15	lecture	Study for quiz 4!
T	22-Apr		Earth Day! Do something good for the planet--it's the only one we've got!
W	23-April	Social Behavior, contin.	Read Dr. Gary Ritchinson's notes on living in groups	Quiz 4; lecture	nothing
F	25-April	Arbor Day! Social Behavior, contin.	Read about cooperation here	lecture; cooperation game	nothing
S	27-Apr		Orthodox Easter
M	28-April	Social Behavior, contin.	Read more about social behavior here	video	nothing
W	30-April	Behavior and Captivity	-----	lecture	nothing
F	2-May	Animal Rights and Animal Welfare	handouts; read about animal welfare issues here;read this site also	lecture; Receive Take-Home Exam 3	Study for exam!
S	10-May	*3rd Exam Due by 5pm on this day!*

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