Syllabus (ZOOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-10

Semester: 6

Course Code: BZOOMAJ10C

Course Title: Adaptation and Animal Behavior

(L-P-Tu): 4-2-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective:

Learning Outcome: Adaptation and Animal behavior: Students will know in details about patterns of behaviors, survival strategies, social and cooperative behaviors, design of signals and chronobiology.

Adaptation and Animal Behaviour

Theory=4 credits

Course Objective: Animal Behavior has been associated with educational curricula for introductory courses in biological science for more than 40 years. When it comes to studying animal behavior, a more integrated approach is needed to stay up to date with the developments in this field. This course emphasizes research that links behavior to the brain, genes and hormones as well as to environmental and social factors. It also aims to test out fresh theories on how animal behavior has evolved. Finally, its fundamental objective is to provide students with a window into the multiple levels of analysis that researchers employ to explain why all living things behave, often in complex ways

Adaptation and Animal Behaviour

Theory

1. Adaptation

• Introduction, Adaptive radiation & adaptive convergence in mammals.
• Xeric adaptation (camel and lizard), Aquatic (Whale) adaptation.
• Adaptive radiation with special reference to Darwin’s finches.
• Migration of fish and bird.
• Zoogeographical realms, Plate tectonic and Continental drift theory, distribution of birds and mammals in different realms.
• Mimicry: Types, Adaptive significance.

2. Animal behaviour: Concept and classification:

• Introduction, Ethology as a branch of biology, Animal psychology.
• Classification of behavioral patterns.
• Analysis of behavior (Ethogram).
• Innate Behavior

3. Control of behavior:

• Introduction
• Neural behaviour
• Hormonal behaviour

4. Developmental behavior:

• Introduction,
• Genetic components
• Environmental components

5. Communication:

• Introduction
• Chemical, Visual, Light, Audio, Specific specificity of Songs
• Evolution of Language (primates)

6. Ecological aspects of behavior:

• Introduction
• Habitat selection, Food selection
• Optimal forage theory, Anti predation defences
• Aggression, Homing, Territoriality, Dispersal

7. Social behavior:

• Introduction
• Social behavior of group living mammals
• Group selection, Kin selection
• Example of eusociality and haplodiploidy

8. Reproductive behavior:

• Introduction
• Evolution of Sex and Reproductive strategies
• Mating systems, Courtship

9. Introduction to Chronobiology

• Historical developments in chronobiology
• Biological oscillation: the concept of Average, amplitude, phase and period, Circadian and Circa-annual rhythms,

10. Learning:

• Introduction
• Conditioning
• Habituation
• Insight learning
• Association learning
• Reasoning and Cognitive skills

Practical 2 credits

• Study of homology and analogy from suitable specimens.
• To study mimicry in insect (Using photography).
• To study the behavioural responses of wood lice to dry and humid conditions.
• To study geotaxis behaviour in earthworm.
• To study the phototaxis behaviour in insects.
• Visit to Wild life Sanctuary/Biodiversity Park/National Park/ reserves of the biosphere/ Sea cost to study behavioural activities of animals and prepare a short report.
• Study of circadian functions in humans (daily eating, sleep and temperature patterns).

Reference Books

• Alcock: Animal Behaviour: An evolutionary approach (9 ed. 2009, Sinauer)
• Biological Rhythms: Vinod Kumar (2002) Narosa Publishing House, Delhi/ Springer-Verlag, Germany.
• David McFarland, Animal Behaviour, Pitman Publishing Limited, London, UK.
• Drickamer, Vessey and Jacob: Animal Behaviour (5th ed. 2002, McGraw Hill)
• Goodenough et al.: Perspectives on Animal Behaviour (1993, Wiley)
• John Alcock, Animal Behaviour, Sinauer Associate Inc., USA.
• Manning, A. and Dawkins, M. S, An Introduction to Animal Behaviour, Cambridge,University Press, UK.
• Paul W. Sherman and John Alcock, Exploring Animal Behaviour, Sinauer Associate Inc., Massachusetts, USA.