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| ZOOL0213-1 | Behavioural ecology
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| Duration : | 15h Th, 15h Pr |
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| Credits/ECTS : |
| Master in Psychological Sciences, in-depth approach, 2nd year | | First semester | | 3 |
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| Master in Psychology, professional focus in social, work and organizations psychology, 2nd year | | First semester | | 3 |
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| Master in Psychology, Professional Focus in Clinical Psychology : Psychotherapeutic Process and Change, 2nd year | | First semester | | 3 |
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| Master in Psychology, Professional Focus in Clinical Psychology : Cognitive-Behavioural Psychotherapeutic Approach, Clin, 2nd year | | First semester | | 3 |
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| Master in Psychology, Professional Focus in Cognitive and Behavioural Neurosciences, 2nd year | | First semester | | 3 |
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| Holder(s) : | Mathieu Denoël |
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| Language : | French language |
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| Course contents : | The course is a complement to the general course of ethology given in the first cycle. It focuses on behavioural ecology and gives functional explanations to the complexity of behavioural patterns exhibited in varied environmental situations. The course explains how behaviours contribute to the survival and reproductive success of individuals and how the observed tactics and strategies have been selected. Optimality and maximalisation are of primary importance in this perspective. After a general introduction (first lecture), the course is divided into three main chapters: resource exploitation (lecture 2), reproductive systems (lectures 3 to 6) and interactions (lecture 7).
- Chapter 1: main concepts and methods in behavioural ecology.
- Chapter 2: choice of feeding patches, dietary items, reproductive habitat, and dispersion.
- Chapter 3: sexual dimorphism, mate choice, intra-sexual selection, sex roles, public information, mating systems, alternative mating tactics, and sperm competition.
- Chapter 4: interactions with conspecifics (parental care, life in groups, cooperation, altruism) |
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| Course objective : | The aim of the course is to explain relations among behaviour, ecology and evolution in a perspective of optimality and selection. It consists in explaining theories in behavioural ecology on diversity of behavioural patterns and in illustrating them with empirical data from varied zoological groups. |
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| Prerequisites : | It is useful to have bases in ethology. |
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| Workshops : | Depending on the number of students, bibliographic report and/or practicals on a specific topic in behavioural ecology. If practicals are given, the presence of students is mandatory. |
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| Organization : | The lectures are given on Wednesdays, the first quadrimester. Lab works (practicals) can take place on Wenesdays or on other days. |
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| Written notes : | The Power-Point slides and the table of contents of the lectures are available on the web site of the Behavioural Biology Unit http://www.etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/cours.html |
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| Assessment : | The evaluation is based on an oral exam on the lectures and on the practicals/report. |
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| Contacts : | Mathieu Denoël
Behavioural Biology Unit
Institute of Zoology (Bat. I1)
University of Liege
Quai van Beneden 22
4020 Liège
E-mail: Mathieu.Denoel@ulg.ac.be |
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| Items online : |
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| Behavioural ecology |
| This link gives access to the web page of the course of behavioural ecology. The lecture notes in pdf format can be downloaded individually. A detailed table of contents, a bibliographic list and resources for the practicals are also provided. |
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