BB503: Behaviour, environment and scientific writing (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04007101

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the spring semester.
Third quarter.

Teacher responsible
Email: ulrik@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
None.

Course introduction
The course provides an overview of basic principles of animal behaviour in the wild, illustrated by case stories and introducing terminology of animal behaviour. This is combined with ecotoxicological issues, illustrated by the use of pesticides in Denmark and their potential harm to the environment, with special focus on the freshwater fauna. In parallel with the lectures, the students are trained in reading and writing scientific texts. They learn to recognise and characterise the language of scientific texts on animal behaviour and ecotoxicology and to develop their understanding of the structure, communication and function of such texts.



Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course the students are expected to be able to:

- identify and describe the linguistic form and function of scientific texts
- locate, retrieve and use information from the scientific literature on a givin biological phenomenon
- follow and evaluate a biological argumentation in a text
- express themselves with precision using relevant biological terms
- produce biological texts aimed at professionals as well as at laymen utilize central terminology of and explain the main theses in animal behaviour
- utilize central terminology of ecotoxicology

Subject overview
The following topics are presented and discussed:
1. The structure, communication, and function of scientific writing with special emphasis on behavioural and ecotoxicological texts
2. Motor and sensory systems
3. Motivation in behaviour
4. Development of behavioural patterns
5. Evolution of behaviour
6. Function of behaviour
7. Communication and social organisation
8. Altered behaviour as a result of toxic substances
9. Quantification of behaviour and the use of behavioural change as a sensitive measure

Literature

• Slater PJB: Essentials of animal behaviour, Cambridge University Press. 1999.
• Pechenik JA: A Short Guide to Writing about Biology, Pearson (2006, udg. 6.).

Syllabus
See syllabus.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
The report from the practical, and text writing are collected in a portfolio, which has to be defended satisfactorily at an oral examination. At the oral examination the acquisition of terminology and key principles of behaviour and ecotoxicology is also evaluated. Internal examiners; passed/failed.

Tutorials and laboratory practical are compulsory. Active participation and punctual return of written assignments is a prerequisite for attending the examination.

Re-examination after fourth quarter.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Undervisningen vil bestå af forelæsninger (16 timer), eksaminatorier (30 timer) samt en laboratorieøvelse (4 timer)
Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.