{"id":1612,"date":"2022-01-20T21:52:44","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T21:52:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=module&#038;p=1612"},"modified":"2022-05-19T10:16:33","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T09:16:33","slug":"animal-behaviour-a-quantitative-approach","status":"publish","type":"module","link":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/module\/animal-behaviour-a-quantitative-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"BL3319 &#8211; Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span>This module is designed to provide a broad and multifaceted perspective on animal behaviour, emphasising contemporary theoretical, mathematical and statistical approaches to the discipline. Nobel-Prize-winning ethologist, Niko Tinbergen, pointed out that to understand behaviour fully researchers had to answer four types of questions, about its causation, function, development and evolution. All four areas are covered in the course, which includes lectures on the genetic, neural, physiological and experiential (i.e. learning) influences on behaviour; behavioural development; foraging; sexual behaviour, sexual selection and mate choice; communication, cooperation and culture. The course contains extensive material of a formal theoretical nature, and emphasises quantitative skills throughout. Students will be introduced to new mathematical and statistical approaches within the field.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This module is designed to provide a broad and multifaceted perspective on animal behaviour, emphasising contemporary theoretical, mathematical and statistical approaches to the discipline. Nobel-Prize-winning ethologist, Niko Tinbergen, pointed out that to understand behaviour fully researchers had to answer four types of questions, about its causation, function, development and evolution. All four areas are covered&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1743,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","skill":[],"class_list":["post-1612","module","type-module","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"assessment_details":"3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%","contributing_staff":[{"user-id":"kjr33","role":"Associate Lecturer (Education Focused)","module_organiser":1837,"phone":"","ID":1799,"post_title":"Dr Kelly Robinson","post_content":"","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-05-18 16:58:24","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-18 15:58:24","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-kelly-robinson","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-18 16:58:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-18 15:58:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=staff_member&#038;p=1799","menu_order":0,"post_type":"staff_member","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"id":1799},{"user-id":"ler4","role":"Reader","module_organiser":1891,"phone":"","ID":1857,"post_title":"Dr Luke Rendell","post_content":"","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-05-19 10:15:51","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-19 09:15:51","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-luke-rendell","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-19 10:15:51","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-19 09:15:51","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=staff_member&#038;p=1857","menu_order":0,"post_type":"staff_member","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"id":1857},{"user-id":"mmw1","role":"Lecturer","module_organiser":1611,"phone":"","ID":1816,"post_title":"Dr Mike Webster","post_content":"","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-05-19 08:57:02","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-19 07:57:02","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-mike-webster","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-19 08:57:02","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-19 07:57:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=staff_member&#038;p=1816","menu_order":0,"post_type":"staff_member","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"id":1816}],"learning_outcomes":"Students completing module BL3319 successfully should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Be able to summarise Tinbergen\u00c3\u00af\u00c2\u00bf\u00c2\u00bds Four Questions about the mechanism, function, development and evolution of behaviour.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be able to discus and critique the quantitative approaches that researchers have developed to study how animals deal with challenges such as learning about the environment, avoiding predators, finding and competing for food and mates and rearing young.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be familiar with concepts such as game theory and foraging theory and discuss how these can be used to quantify the fitness pay-offs of different behavioural strategies.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be confident in devising and carrying out your own research into animal behaviour and analysing your own data.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be able to present your own research findings in written form and as a poster, and be confident in explaining your work to your peers.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","module_code":"BL3319","programme":[{"related_modules":[1606,1607,1609,1611,1608,1613,1615,1614,1612],"ID":1605,"post_title":"Zoology","post_content":"The BSc in Zoology is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. The programme begins with a broad foundation across the range of biology, and then progresses from modules in molecular, cellular and organismal biology to a choice of options across a range of topics such as animal behaviour, development, evolution, neurobiology, environmental physiology, sea mammal biology, and various more ecological topics.\r\n\r\nAlongside zoology, in the first year of your studies you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.st-andrews.ac.uk\/subjects\/study-options\/ug\/degree-routes\/honours\/\">how academic years are organised<\/a>.\r\n\r\nIn third year, there is a shift from core, broad-themed modules to more specialised modules that allow students to prepare for their Honours degree. In fourth year, students continue specific research in their chosen area through student-led, inquiry-based learning.\r\n\r\nThe University of St\u00a0Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.st-andrews.ac.uk\/subjects\/study-options\/ug\/flexible\/\">flexible degree structure web page.<\/a>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\">\r\n\r\nWell-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.st-andrews.ac.uk\/subjects\/biology\/zoology-bsc\/direct\/\">directly into the second year of this course<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nCentres of research within the School of Biology offer students the experience of working alongside experts and the opportunity to develop their own research in Honours years.\r\n\r\nThese facilities include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/soi.st-andrews.ac.uk\/\">The Scottish Oceans Institute<\/a>\u00a0houses a modern aquarium and laboratories for molecular, developmental and physiological studies of marine systems. The institute is ideally placed on the seashore near grey and common seal colonies and bottlenose dolphin feeding areas.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk\/cbd\/\">The Centre for Biological Diversity<\/a>\u00a0has excellent facilities for behavioural, ecological and evolutionary research on small animals (including birds, insects and fish) and on plants.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.st-andrews.ac.uk\/bsrc\/\">The Biomedical Sciences Research Complex<\/a>\u00a0offers large multi-group laboratories that are focused on structural biology, molecular microbiology, virology, chemical biology and molecular medicine.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"96","post_date":"2022-01-20 21:42:43","post_date_gmt":"2022-01-20 21:42:43","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"zoology","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-04-11 17:01:07","post_modified_gmt":"2025-04-11 16:01:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=degree&#038;p=1605","menu_order":0,"post_type":"degree","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["400","10","2015-10-06 21:29:38","2015-10-06 21:29:38","","12036757_10153688467833787_4618725925346231596_n","","inherit","closed","closed","","12036757_10153688467833787_4618725925346231596_n","","","2015-10-06 21:29:38","2015-10-06 21:29:38","","0","https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2015\/10\/12036757_10153688467833787_4618725925346231596_n.jpg","0","attachment","image\/jpeg","0","400"],"id":1605}],"skills":false,"timetable":"","module_code_year":"2021_2\/S2\/BL3319","credits":"20","semester":"2","module_organiser":[{"user-id":"kjr33","role":"Associate Lecturer (Education Focused)","module_organiser":1837,"phone":"","ID":1799,"post_title":"Dr Kelly Robinson","post_content":"","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-05-18 16:58:24","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-18 15:58:24","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-kelly-robinson","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-18 16:58:24","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-18 15:58:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=staff_member&#038;p=1799","menu_order":0,"post_type":"staff_member","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"id":1799}],"pre-requisite_modules":[{"assessment_details":"2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%","contributing_staff":[1802],"learning_outcomes":"Students completing module BL2303 successfully should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Develop an understanding of Evolution and its history<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand Natural Selection and Genetic Drift<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Develop knowledge of Molecular Evolution and mutation<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand the evolution and consequences of sexual reproduction<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Know the relationship between speciation and Biodiversity<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand the basic principles of Phylogenetics<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Appreciate the role of the study of evolution to contemporary society<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","module_code":"BL2303","programme":[1605],"skills":false,"timetable":"","module_code_year":"2021_2\/S1\/BL2303","credits":"15","semester":"1","module_organiser":1799,"pre-requisite_modules":[1606,1607],"additional_information":"","ID":1609,"post_title":"BL2303 - Evolutionary Biology","post_content":"<span>Evolution is a fundamentally important component of our understanding of all biological phenomena, from molecular to ecosystem scales. This module will give an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology, aimed at contemporary biologists of all backgrounds.<\/span>","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-01-20 21:49:50","post_date_gmt":"2022-01-20 21:49:50","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"evolutionary-biology","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-18 17:01:36","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-18 16:01:36","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=module&#038;p=1609","menu_order":0,"post_type":"module","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["1727","4","2022-05-18 16:37:28","2022-05-18 15:37:28","","BL2303","","inherit","open","closed","","bl2303","","","2022-05-18 16:37:28","2022-05-18 15:37:28","","0","https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/05\/BL2303.jpg","0","attachment","image\/jpeg","0","1727"],"post_format":false,"skill":false,"id":1609},{"assessment_details":"2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%","contributing_staff":[1812],"learning_outcomes":"Students completing module BL2307 successfully should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Explain what Ecology is and what is its importance in modern human societies<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Summarise what the different population processes are<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be able to describe the flow of energy through food webs, and controls thereon<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be able to identify and use an economic (cost-benefit) approach to understand the functional significance of behaviour<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Differentiate between the different levels of biodiversity<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Describe what molecular ecology is and how it can be used in conservation biology<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","module_code":"BL2307","programme":false,"skills":false,"timetable":"","module_code_year":"2021_2\/S2\/BL2307","credits":"15","semester":"2","module_organiser":1811,"pre-requisite_modules":[1606,1607],"additional_information":"","ID":1810,"post_title":"BL2307 - Ecology","post_content":"<span>This module introduces basic concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity. It provides an understanding of fundamental ecological concepts including population regulation, intra- and inter-specific competition, species niche as well as taxonomic and functional diversity. This module is suitable for all Biologists and environmental scientists. Although it is an introductory module, it will cover the latest developments in the field of ecology.<\/span>","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-05-19 08:51:38","post_date_gmt":"2022-05-19 07:51:38","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"bl2307-ecology","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-19 08:51:59","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-19 07:51:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=module&#038;p=1810","menu_order":0,"post_type":"module","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["1788","4","2022-05-18 16:39:00","2022-05-18 15:39:00","","BenthicEcologists","","inherit","open","closed","","benthicecologists","","","2022-05-18 16:39:00","2022-05-18 15:39:00","","0","https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/05\/BenthicEcologists.png","0","attachment","image\/png","0","1788"],"post_format":false,"skill":false,"id":1810},{"assessment_details":"2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%","contributing_staff":[1791,1820],"learning_outcomes":"Students completing module BL2310 successfully should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Understand and describe the fundamentals of differing physiological control systems<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Compare the structure and function of the different physiological systems<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand how the integration of physiological control mechanisms permits the maintenance of homeostasis<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Understand the physiological basis of organismal adaptations to environmental challenge<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use quantitative methods to analyze, and permit interpretation of, important physiological phenomena<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","module_code":"BL2310","programme":[1605],"skills":false,"timetable":"","module_code_year":"2021_2\/S2\/BL2310","credits":"15","semester":"2","module_organiser":false,"pre-requisite_modules":[1606,1607],"additional_information":"","ID":1608,"post_title":"BL2310 - Comparative Physiology","post_content":"<span>A comparative physiologist studies organisms to explore the origins and nature of physiological diversity. This module covers the principles of physiological adaptation in a range of animals, including examples from all major taxa and from all habitats. The specific topics and components include: (1) the physiological consequences of body size and scaling effects; (2) respiratory and circulatory systems in vertebrates and invertebrates; (3) thermal physiology: (4) water balance in aquatic and land animals; (5) the mammalian kidney and its functioning; (6) sensory systems in different environments; (7) neural signaling and vertebrate senses; (8) control systems - hormones and pheromones; and (9) immunity and the maintenance of physiological integrity.<\/span>","post_excerpt":"","post_author":"4","post_date":"2022-01-20 21:49:09","post_date_gmt":"2022-01-20 21:49:09","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"comparative-physiology","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-05-19 09:16:04","post_modified_gmt":"2022-05-19 08:16:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/?post_type=module&#038;p=1608","menu_order":0,"post_type":"module","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","comments":false,"_thumbnail_id":["1733","4","2022-05-18 16:37:43","2022-05-18 15:37:43","image: Nephila clavata Koch - the Japanese golden web spider. This large bodied (3 cm) spider is a voracious predator and shows marked sexual dimorphism (small males, large females) plus complex mating behavior - including sexual cannibalism.","BL2310","image: Nephila clavata Koch - the Japanese golden web spider. This large bodied (3 cm) spider is a voracious predator and shows marked sexual dimorphism (small males, large females) plus complex mating behavior - including sexual cannibalism.","inherit","open","closed","","bl2310","","","2022-05-19 09:13:54","2022-05-19 08:13:54","","0","https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/05\/BL2310.jpg","0","attachment","image\/jpeg","0","1733"],"post_format":false,"skill":false,"id":1608}],"additional_information":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module\/1612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/module"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/module"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"skill","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/students\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/skill?post=1612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}