Class Ecoethology

The study of behavior dates back to the beginning of human civilizations. In the first instance, to understand the habits of animals that were important for feeding and thus facilitate hunting processes, and then to understand how to keep these animals in captivity. From these early times, empirical or systematic observation of behavior is part of our daily life.
This subject consists of an introduction to the main facets of the study of animal behavior paying special attention to its ecological and evolutionary meaning.

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

1. History of the study of animal behavior
2. Behavioral ecology
3. Altruism, kin selection and eussocial systems
4. Costs and benefits of social life
5. Communication
6. Territoriality and aggression
7. Sexual reproduction
8. Sexual selection: competition between males and mate choice
9. Mating systems
10. Parental Care

PRACTICAL PROGRAM

1. General Concepts of experimental design:
2. Paired and parallel Designs.
3. Development Studies
4. Notion of ethogram; categorization of behavior, choice of behavioral categories, agreement between observers. Behavior sequences analysis.
5. Observation and recording techniques on behavior analysis.
6. Observation of human surveillance behavior: testing different explanatory hypotheses.  Data analysis and discussion.
7. Assembly of simple observation experiments with live animals.
8. Field exits: Zoomarine for observation of operant conditioning.
9. Observation of behavior for elaboration of practical work.

Presentation of the contents will be performed with the support of slide show. Whenever possible will be made discussion of articles related to the main conceptual models that lead to research in this area. Application of the techniques of observation and experimentation used in the study of animal behavior in laboratory and
field work. Experiences will also be mounted with an end to the practice and collection of systematic observations that may be used in the final practical.

• Alcock, J. (2013) ¿ Animal behaviour. An evolutionary approach. Sinauer. Ass. Sunderland. 10th ed.
• Martin, P. & P. Bateson (2007) - Measuring behaviour. An introductory guide. 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press.