General and Aquatic Animal Ethology

Code:

RM04

Acronym:

EGAA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Behavior Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S (of 12-09-2022 to 10-02-2023)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Behavioural Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	15	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

It is intended that students who obtain approval to the curricular unit General Ethology and Aquatic Animals will be able to:

(1) Analyze from a historical perspective the beginning of the systematic study of animal behavior;

(2) Understand the great behavioral systems common to the various species, necessary for their survival;

(3) Analyze the biological basis of behavior from an ontogenetic perspective that includes the acquisition of information in individual terms and the study of the structures that allow the behavior to occur;

(4) Understand the application of this knowledge to aquatic animals;

(5) Understand the importance of animal welfare and respect for ethical principles;

(6) Apply appropriate research methods to the study of animal behavior;

(7) Design, develop and present an original work resulting from the observation of the behavior of a selected species.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended that this curricular unit has a large participation by students, who should:

(1) Sediment the knowledge acquired by applying it to the study of aquatic animals;

(2) Develop individual and group tasks that promote the capacity for reflection and critical spirit;

(3) Design, develop and present an original work resulting from the observation of the behavior of a selected species;

(4) Develop communication skills, presenting revision / original works in the form of oral communication or poster.

Working method

Presencial

Program

(1) Historical evolution of ethology and main concepts; the phylogenetic evolution of behavior.

(2) Study of behavioral systems (agonistic, sexual, vinculative); territorial and hierarchical behavior. Communication and culture.

(3) Cognitive ethology and Ontogenesis of behavior.

(4) Research methods in Ethology. Experimental design. Ethograms. Results analysis.

(5) Stress, well-being and ethics.

(6) Ethology and its application areas.

(7) Aquaculture well-being.

(8) The importance of Zebrafish.

(9) Ethology and conservation.

(10) Monitoring and presentation of projects carried out by students.

Mandatory literature

Lee Alan Dugatkin; Principles of Animal Behavior, W. W. Norton & Company, 2020. ISBN: 978-0393920451
Michael Breed and Janice Moore; Animal Behavior, Academic Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780128015322
Felicity Huntingford; Malcolm Jobling; Sunil Kadri A ; Aquaculture and Behavior , John Wiley & Sons, 2012. ISBN: 9781405130899
Edward J. Branson ; Fish welfare , Blackwell Publishing Ltd. , 2008. ISBN: 9781405146296

Complementary Bibliography

A.V. Kalueff, J.M. Cachat ; Zebrafish Models in Neurobehavioral Research, Humana Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4939-5922-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

. For each topic of the program, an oral presentation of the fundamental concepts will be carried out by the teacher, using the bibliographic (books and articles) and audiovisual (images and videos) support most appropriate to each theme.
. Tutorial classes to accompany students in the in-depth research and selection of topics that will be later presented and discussed.
. Oral and poster presentations of the work done by the students. Discussion.

Theoretical-practical classes:
. Field and laboratory observations
. Practical application of research methods in Ethology. Experimental design. Elaboration of an ethogram. Data analysis.

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Behavioural biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Zoology > Animal ethology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Exame	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Trabalho de campo	30,00
Elaboração de projeto	30,00
Frequência das aulas	50,00
Trabalho escrito	15,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

. Presentation of the tasks performed by the students
. Development and presentation of a behavioral study project for a specific animal species
. Written test

Calculation formula of final grade

. Presentation/discussion of the tasks proposed to the students - 30%
. Development and presentation of the behavior project - 40%
. Written exam - 30%

Classification improvement

. Repetition of the theoretical exam, according to the rules established by the UP.