Social ethology

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Fany Brotcorne, Johann Delcourt, Pascal Poncin

Coordinator

Pascal Poncin

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

First part (J. Delcourt):
In this part, the collective mechanisms at the basis of social behaviours will be discussed: - the development of social groups and the maintening of their cohesion, - the dynamic processes of group motion, - the regulation and synchronisation of collective behaviours, - the role of homogeneity and heterogeneity of group membership, - the impact of spatial heterogeneity within the group.
Moreover, social cognition is developed, in particular: - social transmission information (excepted by learning), - collective decision-making, - and swarm (collective) intelligence.
Second Part (F. Brotcorne):
History of the evolutionary theory in relation to social behaviour (socio-biology and socio-ecology). Mechanisms of sexual selection and social stuctures - Altruism, nepotism, parental investment, kin recognition, infanticide.
A significant part of the course will be devoted to social information in animals: different mechanisms of social learning within animal groups. Social network analysis.
Animal culture et mechanisms underpinning their acquisition, maintenance and diffusion/transmission within a group.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

First part (J. Delcourt):
Discuss the thematic of social behaviour from the point of view the proximal causes (interaction mechanisms between individuals, ontogeny of collective behaviours), and be able to connect them with the ultimate causes (function and evolution).
Master the main basic concepts of the "living in groups" in animals, be able to understand them and recognize them in context. Be able to connect the matter of the cursus and the reading of recent scientific publications, and to develop its critic mind.
Second part (F. Brotcorne):
Discuss the question of animal social behaviour in the context of evolution. Proceed to the critical examination of recent developments. Training (pratical excercices) related to the acquisition and application of Social Network Analysis tools.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

General ethology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

First part (J. Delcourt):
Discussion sessions will be proposed throughout the cursus.
Analysis of recent scientific papers (whether suggested by the lecturer or by the student)  
Second part (F. Brotcorne):
Pratical excercices on social network analysis using open-access softwares, nased on a paper and suggested data set.
 

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

The course includes two parts:
1) The first part (J. Delcourt) concerns the collective decision mechanisms in animals and will take place in February - March 2019
2) The second part (F. Brotcorne) concerns the social learning mechanisms and animal cultures and will take place in April - May 2019.
The theoritical course is organized in 2 x 4 sessions of 3 hours (scheduled on Tuesday 9:00 - 12:00 in Q2).
The pratical course is organized in 2 sessions of 3  hours (application of new techniques and tools in social ethology) that will take place at the end of each part, respectively.
Teaching langage: French

Recommended or required readings

Powerpoint slides provided to the students and suggestion of additional scientific papers reading.

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral exam on both parts of the course and taking place on the same day.
A personal report on the exercises acquired during the practical training could be requested and marked.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

See section Modes of delivery.
The dates and schedule will be specified and likely to be modified at the beginning of the second term.

Contacts

Fany Brotcorne : 04 366 51 12   (fbrotcorne@uliege.be)
Johann Delcourt : 04 366 50 79    (johann.delcourt@uliege.be)
Pascal Poncin : (P.Poncin@uliege.be)

Items online