Introduction to behavioral ecology of waterbirds WF-OB-PEBP

a) Learning outcomes
1.Knowledge:
EK1 Student describes the basic types of bird behavior regarding habitat selection, competition for resources, mating systems, parental care, alternative reproductive strategies, altruistic behavior and their adaptive significance; describes research methods in the field of behavioral ecology
EK2 The student knows the basic hypotheses regarding the adaptiveness of bird behavior; explains the ecological and evolutionary conditions of various bird behaviors
EK 3 The 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;
EK4 Student recognizes basic terms in a foreign language in the field of ecology, behavior and species protection of birds
2.Skills
EK5 Student uses at a basic level literature in a foreign language in the field of behavioural ecology;
EK6 Student puts the correct hypotheses regarding the causes of the situations based on logical premises
EK7 Student is able to prepare an oral presentation using various means of verbal and visual communication, and participate in a focused discussion using the scientific language in the field of ecology, animal behavior and nature protection;
3.Competences:
EK 8 Student shows caution and criticism in using information from scientific literature, the Internet, and especially available in mass media, concerning ecology, behavior and species protection of birds

b) Description of ECTS
Student activity hours of student work
Participation in the lecture 30
Preparation of a presentation 30
Total of 60 hours [60/30 (25) = 2]
Number of ECTS 2

Evaluation criteria
1. 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; does not know the basic hypotheses regarding the adaptiveness of bird behaviour; 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 basic 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; knows some hypotheses regarding the adaptiveness of bird behaviour; 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; knows many hypotheses regarding the adaptiveness of bird behaviour, but cannot give specific examples; 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 the basic 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; knows the hypotheses presented in class about the adaptiveness of bird behaviour, and is able to give specific examples; 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 the basic 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 5-7)
score 2 (unsatisfactory): Student is not able to use literature in a foreign language regarding behavioural ecology at the basic level; is not able to make correct hypotheses regarding the causes of the situations based on logical premises; is not able to prepare an oral presentation using various means of verbal and visual communication, uses unproven sources, the text of the article is incorrectly translated; cannot participate in a targeted discussion using the scientific language in the field of ecology, animal behaviour and nature protection;
score 3 (satisfactory): Student is able to a limited extent use literature in a foreign language on behavioural ecology issues at the basic level; is able in some cases to put correct hypotheses regarding the causes of the situations, based on logical premises; correctly prepares an oral presentation using various means of verbal and visual communication, but has problems with the translation of scientific texts in English and the selection of material important for the presentation; has problems with discussions using the scientific language in the field of ecology, animal behaviour and nature protection – often uses colloquial language.
score 4 (good): Student is able to use literature in a foreign language on behavioural ecology issues at the basic level - sometimes makes mistakes resulting from insufficient understanding; is able in most cases to put correct hypotheses regarding the causes of the situations, based on logical premises; can prepare oral presentations well using various means of verbal and visual communication, but the presentation contains some errors or does not use all the important information contained in the discussed articles; in most cases can participate in targeted discussion using the scientific language in the field of ecology, animal behaviour and nature protection;
score 5 (very good): Student perfectly uses literature in a foreign language on issues of behavioural ecology at the basic level; easily puts the correct hypotheses regarding the causes of the situations, based on logical premises; prepares a coherent and thought-out presentation using various means of verbal and visual communication. The presentation contains all relevant information from the articles, and the articles have been translated perfectly; can participate in a targeted discussion using the scientific language in the field of ecology, animal behaviour and nature protection.
3.Competences (EK 8) The reliability of using information and the degree of criticism of information in particular these available on the Internet are assessed

Methods of assessment:
Assessment of the presentation of the article related to the topic. Evaluated are: form, content and presentation of multimedia presentation, and the ability to find suitable material
Evaluation of the activity in the course (participation in the discussion)

The final evaluation:
results from an assessment of the presentation. Significant activity can increase the final evaluation. More than 3 absences reduce the evaluation by 1, the course will not be credited if less than half the attendance is found.
Further detailed assessment criteria will be given to participants during the course.

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 (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of WF-OB-PEBP in USOSweb