Introduction to Behavioural Ecology of Waterbirds WF-OB-BEPW
The lecture introduces the issues of behavioral ecology on the example of water birds. Presents research methods and hypotheses testing adaptiveness of bird behavior. Explains the importance of different behaviors for the survival and reproduction of individuals (adaptive importance of behavior) which is important for species conservation management
Subject range:
1. Organization of classes. Introduction. What does behavioral ecology do? Developments in the field of behavioural ecology. Methods. Hypotheses testing.
2.Habitat choice and nest site selection
3.Foraging strategies – individual and group foraging, kleptoparasitism
4. Competition for resources - territoriality
5.Group living – coloniality in birds
6.Mate choice, mating systems, sex dimorphism
7.Biparental care
8.Parental care of one parent
9.Sex allocation – brood sex ratio
10.Resource allocation. Within pair conflicts of interest, parental-offspring conflict
11.Alternative breeding strategies – extrapair copulations
12. Alternative breeding strategies – brood parasitism
13.Altruistic behaviour
14.Natal dispersion, prospecting
15.Behavioural ecology and conservation
(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Preliminary Requirements
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
1.Knowledge:
EK1 Student describes the basic types of bird behavior regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, etc. and their adaptive significance; describes research methods in the field of behavioral ecology
EK2 Student understands and explains the relationship between ecology, evolution and behavior of birds; understands and explains the relationship between research in the field of behavioral ecology and the possibilities and methods of species protection;
EK3 Student recognizes specialized terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behavior and species protection of birds
2.Skills
EK4 Student is able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of activities undertaken to protect waterbirds in connection with aspects of their diverse behavior
3.Competences:
EK 5 Student develops awareness of the need to protect bird species as an element of ecological security
EK6 Student improves language skills and independently uses literature sources in the field of ecology, behavior and species protection of birds.
Assessment criteria
Knowledge (EK 1-3)
score 2 (unsatisfactory): Student is unable to describe the basic types of bird behaviour regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, alternative reproductive strategies, altruistic behaviour and their adaptive significance; cannot describe research methods in the field of behaviorual ecology; cannot explain the ecological and evolutionary conditions of various bird behaviours; does not understand and cannot explain the relationship between ecology, evolution and bird behaviour; does not understand and cannot explain the relationship between research in the field of behavioural ecology and the possibilities and methods of species protection; does not recognize specialized terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behaviour and bird species protection
score 3 (satisfactory): Student is able to describe some types of bird behaviour regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, alternative reproductive strategies, altruistic behaviour and their adaptive significance; can describe some research methods in the field of behavioral ecology; can explain some ecological and evolutionary conditions of various bird behaviours; knows that there is a relationship between ecology, evolution and behaviour of birds, but cannot provide examples of such relationships; knows that there is a relationship between behavioural ecology research and the possibilities and methods of species protection, but is unable to provide examples of the use of behavioural ecology for conservation; recognizes some basic terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behaviour and species protection of birds, but does not always use them correctly.
score 4 (good): Student can describe many types of bird behaviour regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, alternative reproductive strategies, altruistic behavior and their adaptive significance; can describe many research methods in the field of behavioural ecology; can explain many ecological and evolutionary conditions of various bird behaviours; knows that there is a relationship between ecology, evolution and behaviour of birds; can give an example of such a relationship; knows that there is a relationship between research in the field of behavioural ecology and the possibilities and methods of species protection, can give an example of the use of behavioural ecology for conservation; recognizes well specialized terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behaviour and species protection of birds.
score 5 (very good): Student is able to describe all discussed types of bird behaviour regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, alternative reproductive strategies, altruistic behaviour and their adaptive significance; can describe all presented research methods in the field of behavioural ecology; perfectly explains the ecological and evolutionary conditions of various bird behaviours; perfectly understands and explains the examples of the relationship between ecology, evolution and behaviour of birds; understands and explains the relationship between research in the field of behavioural ecology and the possibilities and methods of species protection, can provide examples of the use of behavioural ecology for conservation; perfectly recognizes specialized terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behaviour and bird species protection and uses them in the preparation of his/her presentation
2.Skills (EK 4)
score 2 (unsatisfactory): Student is unable to identify the strengths and weaknesses of activities undertaken to protect waterbirds in connection with some aspects of their diverse behavior;
score 3 (satisfactory): Student is able to identify some strengths and weaknesses of activities undertaken to protect waterbirds in connection with some aspects of their diverse behavior;
score 4 (good): Student is able to identify many strengths and weaknesses of activities undertaken to protect waterbirds in connection with some aspects of their diverse behavior;
score 5 (very good): Student is perfectly able to identify strengths and weaknesses of activities undertaken to protect waterbirds in connection with some aspects of their diverse behavior;
3.Competences (EK 5-6) The self-reliance in using of sources in the field of ecology, behavior and species protection of birds, including foreign-language literature, and the awareness of the importance of bird protection as an element of the natural environment are assessed.
Bibliography
1.Krebs J.R., Davies N.B. 2014. Wprowadzenie do ekologii behawioralnej. PWN, Warszawa.
2.Danchin E. Giraldeau. L.-A. Cezilly F. 2008. Behavioural Ecology. Oxford Univ. Press. New York
3.Wilson E.O. 1980. Socjobiologia. Wyd. Zysk i S-ka, Poznań
4.Futuyama D.J. 2008. Ewolucja. Wyd. Uniw. Warszawskiego, Warszawa.
Reviews and scientific articles on behavioral ecology
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: