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Lecturer(s)
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Sedláček František, prof. RNDr. CSc.
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Veselý Petr, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Content of lectures: Position of behavioral ecology between other behavioral conceptions. Principles of animal behavior. Optimal foraging theory. Parasites and their hosts, predators and their prey. Selfish approach and altruism. Cooperation in animals. Competition for sources, costs of source defense, territory area. Evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS). Development of sexual dimorphism. Sexual conflict and selection. Selection for sex-appeal, handicap hypothesis. Mating systems. Alternative strategies of reproduction (ASR), costs and benefits, sex change. Signals and communication in animals. Behavioral ecology in man, evolutionary psychology. Personality in animals.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming)
- Preparation for classes
- 25 hours per semester
- Preparation for exam
- 25 hours per semester
- Class attendance
- 25 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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To introduce one of behavioral disciplines concerning the relationship between the environment and animal behavior. It is a discipline, in contrast to Ethology, which asks why but not how animals behave.
It is about two-hour long lecture for master degree studets. Periodicity: in academic year starting by even-numbered year only (e.g. 2014/2015).
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Prerequisites
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For students interested in animal behaviour, that passed the basic bachelor course "KZO/159 Biology of animal behaviour".
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Written examination
By written exam students will be asked to answer 10 questions briefly concerning the main principles and mechanisms of animal behaviour.
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Recommended literature
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Davies N.B., Krebs J.R., West S.A. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. Blackwell Science, LtD., fourth editon., 2012.
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Dugatkin L.A. Principles of animal behavior.. W.W. Norton & Company., 2004.
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Westnear D.F., Fox C.W. (eds.). Evolutionary Behavioral Ecology.. Oxford University Press., 2010. ISBN 978-0-19-533193-6.
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