Behavioural Ecology (MS-OE-VÖK)

Responsible for the module: Prof. Dr. Petra Quillfeldt
Target group: Bio MSc, WPV, 1. Sem, module duration: 4 weeks
6 CP
h ttps://www.uni-giessen.de/mug/7/findex36.html/7_36_08_1_B, Spezielle Ordnung aktuelle Fassung, Anlage 2: Modulbeschreibungen, Verhaltensökologie

The module Behavioral Ecology consists of theoretical and practical parts. You will be introduced to the definition, history, methodology and basic concepts of behavioral ecology.

Focus topics:

Evolutive stable strategies
Biological and inclusive fitness
Habitat and food selection, predation
Mate selection, mating systems, and sexual selection
Communication and orientation

The first part of the module offers theoretical input on the focus topics. As part of the examination performance, you will develop presentations on given topics in small groups using specialist literature and present them to the whole group.

The following module part builds on your acquired knowledge from the toolbox. You will develop hypotheses using your own data recordings from material from the Behavioral Ecology and Ecophysiology WG’s nest box project. Your assignment will consist of an introduction to the topic, statistical testing of the hypotheses, development of results, and discussion, which will be presented in a mini paper in the form of an ePoster as another exam activity.

Recommended as good basic books are:

Peter Kappeler (2017), Verhaltensbiologie

(https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.uni-giessen.de/book/10.1007/978-3-662-53145-7),

and: Naguib (2020) Methoden der Verhaltensbiologie

(https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.uni-giessen.de/book/10.1007/978-3-662-60415-1),

See also: Naguib (2006) Methoden der Verhaltensbiologie

(https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.uni-giessen.de/book/10.1007/3-540-33495-5)

These are available as eBooks in the university library.

Posterexamples MS-OE-VÖK SS 2021: