Difference between revisions of "Field Animal Behavior"
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| W 14 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; local observations | | W 14 || Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; local observations | ||
− | || W 21 || '''MIDTERM EXAM'''; field observations after; "7pm - Night time trip to Fenton" | + | || W 21 || '''MIDTERM EXAM'''; field observations after; ""7pm - Night time trip to Fenton"" |
|| W 28 || '''Project presentations''' and assisted work on the paper | || W 28 || '''Project presentations''' and assisted work on the paper | ||
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Revision as of 16:27, 18 April 2014
EEB 3898: Field Animal Behavior
May Term, May 12th - 30th, 2014 MTWThF 9am-12pm Torrey Life Sciences, Rm 313
Instructor: Dr. Kristiina Hurme
Office: TLS 379
Phone: 860-486-5434
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
Course Objectives
➢ Learn how to observe animal behavior
➢ Notice animal behavior in our daily lives
➢ Learn how to take field notes
➢ Learn and apply basic field techniques, study design, and data analysis
➢ Develop a research project
➢ Improve collaboration skills
Course Materials
• Required
o Binoculars (available from us if you don’t have any)
o Field notepad/notebook
o Watch with countdown timer that beeps
o Closed-toe shoes (no sandals) or hiking boots, & proper outdoor clothing (poison ivy, weather)
• Recommended
o Field Guides (birds, mammals, insects, etc.) for New England or Eastern US
o Camera
o Insect repellent (ticks, mosquitoes)
o Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
Tentative* schedule
Day | Topic | Day | Topic | Day | Topic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
M 12 | Course introduction and timeline; What is behavior? | M 19 | Bicentennial Pond; Field notebooks (First Submission) | M 26 | MEMORIAL DAY - NO CLASS; make observations on your own! |
T 13 | Observational methods; cricket mating; Cemetery and W lot pond | T 20 | Individual project presentations; Paper submission (Introduction and Methods); exam review | T 27 | Leave at 8am, Return at 2pm- Coastal fiddler crabs / Field notebooks (Final Submission) |
W 14 | Field research techniques, hypotheses testing, study design, and data analysis; local observations | W 21 | MIDTERM EXAM; field observations after; ""7pm - Night time trip to Fenton"" | W 28 | Project presentations and assisted work on the paper |
Th 15 | Leave at 8am, Return at 2pm - Trip to Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT; Ethograms | Th 22 | Individual project data collection I (Methods adjustment) | Th 29 | Review session in preparation for the final; PAPER SUBMISSION (FINAL) |
F 16 | Project guidelines discussion and selection (written ideas); Fenton River | F 23 | Individual project data collection II | F 30 | FINAL EXAM; Instructor evaluations |
*: Schedule is subject to change pending weather conditions, or unforeseen observation and research opportunities.
Grading
Exams: May 21st (MIDTERM) [50 points]; May 30th (FINAL) [50 points]
Project Paper:
May 20th (Intro and Methods) [30 points];
May 29th (Final) [50 points]
Project Presentations:
May 20th (Intro and Methods) [20 points];
May 28th (Final) [25 points]
Field Notebook Submissions:
May 19th (First) [20 points];
May 27th (Final) [25 points]
iNaturalist submissions:
2+ observations/day = 30 obs. [15 points];
5 min observations:
10 x 2 points [20 points]
Ethograms:
3 x 5 points [15 points]
Field trips = Behavioral observations (5 points each):
Dates will be weather dependent [30 points]
Total: [350 points]
Grading scale: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59-0%.
Plus/minus system will be used for the final grade.
Additional References & Websites
• Alcock, J (2001). Animal Behavior - An Evolutionary Approach (7th ed.). Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers.
• Krebs, J. R. and N. B. Davies (1993). An Introduction to Behavioral Ecology (3rd ed.). Blackwell Scientific Publications.
• Martin, J. and P. Bateson (1993). Measuring Behaviour (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Eastern Forests: A field guide to birds, mammals, trees, flowers, and more. Peterson Field Guides.
Website design by Diego Sustaita; Modified by Kristiina Hurme