Thursday -- I simplified the notes on the desertion model -- if you have previously downloaded them, please use the new one (available with Friday's class).

Jan. 16 (W)
Cl #1

Q&A on course structure (see course information sheet above).
Introduction. What is the study of animal behavior, what does it rest on, and why is it a valuable enterprise?
Begin the history of the study of animal behavior -- evolution and ethology.

Jan. 18 (F)
Cl #2

Ethograms and observational techniques.
Comparative psychology and behaviorism..
The "nature-nurture crisis" of the 60s and70s.

Jan. 23 (W)
Cl #3

Comparative psychology.
The crisis in behaviorism and ethology -- time for a paradigm shift.

Sociobiology and behavioral ecology.
Finish history with "present syntheses".
Finale on course introduction -- Infanticide in langurs. (about 10-15 minutes of class discussion).

Drawing lines between genes, experience, structures and behavior part 1: Heritability of behavior

Handouts, Assignments and Resources
Dugatkin, Ch.2 study questions
Heritability notes	General notes about behavior, genes, and molecules
PP notes (final history notes and start heritability) (CHC access only)

ETHOGRAM DUE AT START OF CLASS
Begin genes and behavior -- how do we know that genotypic differences are linked to behavioral differences?
Several examples of easily demonstrated linkages between genotype and behavior.
The heritability concept.

Handouts, Assignments and Resources
Articles relating to genes environment and behavior
Heritability problems	Solutions to heritability problems.
PP notes on heritability (CHC access only)

Jan. 30 (W)
Cl #6

Genes and behavior, continued.
Hormones. Biological rhythms.
Brief discussion about domesticity and selection.

Feb. 1 (F)
Cl #7

Discussion on article dealing with the uterine environment and behavior in rodents.
Drawing lines between genes, experience, structures and behavior part 2: Genes, proteins and behavior:
About Information processing systems -- an introduction
Where did behavior come from?
Proteins in communication and calculation.

SEQUENCE DATA DUE BY THE START OF CLASS (turn in electronically)

Chemically based behavioral systems.
Electrical communication.
Drawing lines between genes, experience, structures and behavior 3. Cellular mechanisms.
About the evolution of multiicellularity.

Cellular network computation -- the flexibility of networks.
Sensor operation. Simple neural behavioral systems.

Examples of integrated network function -- Bat avoidance by noctuid moths and crickets.
Begin development.

Feb. 11 (M)
Cl #11

Development, continued. Wiring the nervous system.
Drawing lines between genes, experience, structures and behavior 4. Learning
Learning -- overview. Non-associative forms.

Feb. 13 (W)
Cl #12

Classical and operant learning.

Handouts, Assignments and Resources

Bats and Crickets -- article and study questions (CHC access only) )

PP -- Learning # 1 (CHC access only)

Spatial, latent and social learning.
Social learning and animal culture.

KINEMATIC DIAGRAMS DUE AT START OF CLASS
Social learning and animal culture, continued.

Evolution of learning -- When does learned behavior make sense?
END MATERIAL FOR EXAM #1
Start Cognitive ethology -- the "new old" frontier of animal behavior:
Can animals think? Are animals conscious? Are these worthwhile (scientific questions) or are there better questions to ask?

The solvable problems approach.

Feb. 25 (M)
Cl #17

EXAM #1 -- ALL MATERIAL THROUGH LEARNING

Expectancy violation as a method.
Hauser's and others notions of "Mental toolkits" -- navigation, toolmaking and numbers.

TAKE HOME QUESTIONS DUE
Examples of lines of investigation.
Toolmaking.
finish cognitive ethology. Antecedents of human moral sense?
Personality in animals?

Finish cognitive ethology with class discussion on fairness and personality in animals (see before break reading assignment.

Begin Communication-- The importance of sender, receiver, and environment.
Characteristics of communication channels.

Cooperative signaling. Effects imposed by the receiver on the evolution of signals.

March 19 (W)
Cl #24

Non-cooperative communication
The evolution of language. What is it and do animals have it?

March 20 (THURS)

-24 (MON)

EASTER BREAK

March 26 (W)
Cl #25

Overview of aggression and proximate and ultimate theories relating to same.
Contests and alternative strategies.
An introduction to game theory and the evolutionarily stable strategy concept.

Game theory, continued. Hawks and Doves.
Territory and ownership.

Finish game theory.
Begin foraging behavior and how it is studied.
TITLE AND LITERATURE SUMMARY DUE FOR TERM PAPER - papers due April 16

Handouts, Assignments and Resources
Dugatkin Ch. 10 Study Questions	prelim PP notes -- (CHC access only)

B-C maximization -- several examples
Rate maximization models of foraging.

Optimal diet and constraint models.
Overview of the disk equation followed by a discussion of oystercatcher work

Finish discussion of the oystercatcher foraging model
Various critiques of optimality models. END EXAM #2 COVERAGE

Begin resource allocation among individuals. Scramble competition and intro to IFD.

April 9 (W)
Cl #31

EXAM #2 -- ALL MATERIAL THOUGH FORAGING AND OPTIMALITY

April 11 (F)
Cl #32

Ideal free distributions, continued.
Territoriality and migration.

April 14 (M)
Cl #33

Finish territoriality
An aside -- reproductive and life history strategies.

April 16 (W)
Cl #34

Sex, sexual selection, and mate choice

April 18 (F)
Cl #35

Begin mating systems

Polyandry and polygyny.
Polygyny threshold model.

TERM PAPERS DUE AT THE START OF CLASS

Finish mating systems -- sperm competition and mate guarding.
Patterns of parental care.

April 25 (F)
Cl #38

Mate desertion
Parent/offspring conflict
Sibling interactions. The cold calculations of being an older sib.

April 28 (M)
Cl #39

Introduction -- What is social behavior?
A survey of social behavior in animals and the social - solitary continuum
Social behavior in animals that the selective pressures invoked to explain it

April 30 (W)

STUDY PERIOD BEGINS