Duration
40h Th, 15h Pr, 3d FW
Number of credits
| Master in biology of organisms and ecology (120 ECTS) | 6 crédits |
Lecturer
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course is declined in three theoretical parts:
1. Ecophysiology
The first part of the course is devoted to plant and animal ecophysiology. The plant side is made of two chapters : 1) adaptation and physiological tolerance of abiotic stress; 2) relationships between organisms, including beneficial associations, biotic stress and allelopathy. The animal side will mainly focus on physological responses to chemical modifications of the environment. Among other things, the effect of salinity, chemical signaling, and polutant-induced modifications (on behavior and neurobiological processes) will be examined.
2. Behavioural ecology
The second part of the course is devoted to a component of ethology, behavioural ecology. It 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 (main concepts and methods in behavioural ecology), the course is divided in three main chapters: resource exploitation (optimal foraging, selection of reproductive habitat, and dispersion), reproductive systems (sexual dimorphism, mate choice, intra-sexual selection, sex roles, public information, mating systems, alternative mating tactics, and sperm competition), and interactions (parental care, life in groups, and cooperation).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The aim of the Ecophysiology part of the course is to illustrate how physiology of the organisms governs their relationships with their environment and between each other.
The aim of the course of ethology 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.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
It is useful to have bases in physiology, ecology, ethology and evolution.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
theoretical lectures, presentations by the students, and practicals.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The lectures are given during the first quadrimester, starting in September. The presence during practicals (e.g. stage in Cologne Zoo and laboratory) is mandatory.
Recommended or required readings
The Power-Point slides will be available in a .pdf format.
The Power-point slides and the table of contents of the lectures in behavioural ecology are available on the web site of the Behavioural Biology Unit http://www.etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/cours.html
Assessment methods and criteria
The evaluation is based on oral exams, and also on the practical. For the Plant Ecophysiology part, the evaluation includes presentation of an experimental paper where GMOs are created for a higher resistance to environmental stresses.
Work placement(s)
A practical stage will take place in the zoo of Cologne, in Germany, in October (lodging in the city). It aims to use ethological methods on a target species chosen, in advance, by each group of students. Lab practicals will also be done in ecophysiology in Liège. A report will be asked for both activities, which require obligatorily the participation of the students. Depending on logistic possibilities, the program may be changed by the professors.
More information: http://www.etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/cours.html
Organizational remarks
The stage in the zoo of Cologne being hold in October, the inscriptions and payment of accomodations and meals need to be done via via the procedure explained during the welcome day, by email or via our secretariat (Valérie Beaupain, 04-3665081,valerie.beaupain@ulg.ac.be). Late inscriptions may not benefit from good fares of hostels. Transportation is not provided. More information during the first lectures and on the web site of etho lab: http://www.etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/cours.html
Contacts
Dr Mathieu Denoël, Unité de Biologie du Comportement, Institut de Zoologie (Bât. I1), Quai van Beneden 22, 4020 Liège
E-mail: Mathieu.Denoel@ulg.ac.be
Prof. Jean-Christophe Plumier, Animal Physiology, Bât B22, chemin de la vallée 4, 4000 Liège
E-mail: JC.Plumier@ulg.ac.be
Prof. Claire Périlleux, Laboratoire de Physiologie végétale, Bât. B22 Sart Tilman, chemin de la vallée 4, 4000 Liège
E-mail: cperilleux@ulg.ac.be