01257 - Ethology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has the scientific method of study and the basic knowledge of animal behavior relationship with the evolutionary process and the environmental adaptations.

Course contents

ETHOLOGY
1) Animal behavior: definition and evolutionary significance;
the scientific method to study the causes;
proximate causes and remote causes.
2) The gene-environment interaction;
innate (instinctive) behavior and learned behavior;
"imprinting";
the development of behavior: the bird song;
the addiction;
the conditioned reflex;
trial-and-error learning;
the game;
3) Behavioral ecology: animal-environment interaction;
cost-benefit analysis;
animal defense against predators: the mimetism;
the synchronisation of the animals with cyclical changes in the environment;
circadian rhythm, the moon cycle, the biological clock.
4) Select where to live;
habitat selection;
migration;
territoriality.
5) The feeding behavior;
optimal foraging theory;
6) The reproductive behavior;
sexual selection;
the choice of partner;
courtship;
systems of marriage: polygyny, polyandry, monogamy;
the pair bond;
parental care.
7) The social behavior;
the dominance hierarchies;
animal communication: visual, auditory, tactile, electrical, chemical (pheromones) signals;
the insect societies: the honey bee dance;
agonistic behavior;
"mobbing" behavior;
 deceptive behavior;
“egoistic” and “altruistic” behaviors;
"total fitness" concept;
8) Animals' cognitive abilities;
cultural transmission.

Readings/Bibliography

-Sadava D., Hillis D.M., Heller H.C., Berenbaum M.R. "Biologia-vol. 5 La biologia degli animali, vol. 6 L'ecologia. Zanichelli  2014
-Brooker R.J., Widmaier E.P., Graham L.E., Stiling P.D."Biologia-volume 6 Ecologia", McGraw-Hill 2011
-Russell, Wolfe, Hertz, Starr, Mc Millan. "Ecologia e comportamento". Edises, 2010
-Coco E. “Il comportamento degli animali-atlante illustrato di etologia”, Ed. Giunti, 2008
-Alcock J.“Etologia un approccio evolutivo,” Zanichelli 2007

Teaching methods

Lectures with projection of PP and scientific films.

Assessment methods

written test

Teaching tools

computer projector

Office hours

See the website of Maria Vallisneri