PSYCH 200

COMPARATIVE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

SUMMER 1999

Exam 1 Key

Exam 2 Key

Lecture Notes: Evolution

Lecture Notes: Instinct and Learning

Lecture Notes: Genetics and Development

Lecture Notes: Behavioral Adaptations

Lecture Notes: Foraging Behavior

Lecture Notes: Communication

Lecture Notes: Reproductive Tactics

Lecture Notes: Mating Systems

Lecture Notes: Social Behavior

Lecture Notes: Evolutionary Human Behavior

Lecture Notes: Applied Animal Behavior

This course is designed to give you an understanding of the way in which evolution, and natural selection in particular, shapes behavior. Social behavior receives special attention because evolutionary theory makes unique, and often counter-intuitive, predictions in this area. The course emphasizes concepts over rote memorization of facts. Our goal is to teach you how to apply an evolutionary approach to the study of the behavior of animals, including humans.

COURSE COVERAGE (Ch. X refers to chapters in Siiter, R.):

  1. CLASS INTRODUCTION (Ch. 1)
  2. PRINCIPLES OF EVOLUTION (Ch. 2-3)
  3. INSTINCT AND LEARNING (Ch. 4-5)
  4. GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIOR (Ch. 4-5)
  5. BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS (Ch. 8)
  6. FORAGING BEHAVIOR (Ch. 6-7)
  7. COMMUNICATION (Ch. 9)
  8. REPRODUCTIVE TACTICS (Ch. 10)
  9. MATING SYSTEMS (Ch. 11)
  10. ECOLOGY OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR (Ch. 13)
  11. EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO HUMAN BEHAV (Ch. 17)
  12. SPECIAL TOPICS
CLASS FORMAT:

Lectures (Generally Monday - Thursday).

Films (Generally Fridays). The films on animal behavior are an integral part of the course. They provide excellent visual examples of the principles discussed in lectures and these examples will be referred to throughout the course in lectures, discussion sections, and exams. The films are well-narrated, superbly photographed, and quite entertaining (most will be from David Attenborough's PBS series on animal behavior, The Trials of Life). The Trials of Life films are available for individual viewing at Odegaard's Media Center.

GRADES

Exams. There will be three 60-minute, 100-point exams. Each exam covers one-third of the course and the three are weighted equally. Questions are based on lectures, text readings, discussion, and key points from films. The exam format is short answer/essay. Grades will be based on the accuracy, organization, conciseness, and legibility of your answers.

Appeals. If you believe that an exam question was misgraded, you may appeal to have your exam regraded. You can do this by submitting in writing a logical argument as to why you think that you deserve more credit for an answer. Appeals must be submitted no later than three days after graded exams are returned in class. If you submit an appeal, I will regrade your entire exam; thus, you may receive or lose additional points from misgraded answers that you did not specifically appeal.

Replacement exams. A replacement exam will be offered to anyone who has a legitimate, documented reason for missing Exam 1 or Exam 2. The Replacement Exam will cover material from the first two-thirds of the course, and will be given during the final week of the quarter, by arrangement. No other make-ups will be offered.

Final Grades. There is no extra credit in this course. I generally try to maintain a course-wide average of about 2.6. Your final grade will be calculated from the total points on Exam 1, 2, and 3. Your grade will be calculated as follows:

  1. Score = (Points / 300) * 100
  2. Decimal score = (Score - 55) / 10 (a score of less than 62 receives a 0.0)
For example, a course-end total of 238 points would produce a score of: (238 / 300) * 100 = 79.33

Therefore, your decimal score, reported to the registrar, would be: (79.33 - 55) / 10 = 2.4

Disabled Students.

To request academic accommodations due to a disability, contact Disabled Student Services (543-8924: V/TDD). If you have a letter from DSS indicating that you have a disability that requires accommodation, please present the letter to your instructors promptly.