This unit aims to give the students with the interest on the discussion and study of the most relevant questions of animal behavior, by giving them the necessary information and learning outcomes of bio ethological issues in their multiple aspects. Attending the main groups of vertebrates the concept of use and spatial needs is explored. All along the syllabus and whenever it proves to be of importance, comparisons between domestic and wild kin species are made. Gregarism, hierarchy’s agonistic behaviors and inter-specific relations are especially developed. Students will be learnt the evolution of domestication processes. The knowledge of adequate and proper regulations/legislation (Regional, National and International) are also within the scope of this CU. Abnormal behavior and behavioral shifts such as schizophrenia and psychotic behavior as well as manipulation and animal constraint are important syllabus’ items.
1. Introduction; Presentation; Objectives; Bibliography; Evaluation.
2. Ethology as a Science; From 150.000 y up to present times; Instinct, innate and learnt behavior; Aggressiveness and submission; Mechanisms of aggressiveness and submission; Mechanisms of social submission and lowering aggressiveness; Imprinting and agonistic behavior; Sexual and reproductive behavior; Sexuality, heat and sexual competition; Reproduction; Reproductive pairs and alternative strategies; Parental care.
3. Social behavior; Social structures; Types of hierarchies;
3.2. Communication
4.2.1. Inter-specific and Intra-specific
3.3. Gregarious and society species
4. Behavioral organization
4.1. Feeding and drinking
4.1.2. Feeding behavior
4.1.3. Drinking behavior
4.2. Locomotion
4.3. Spatial structure
4.3.1. Total space and residential area
4.3.2. Territories and individual areas
5. Stress and animal welfare
5.1. General principles
5.2. Physiology
5.3. Stress reactions
5.4. Legislation
THEORETHICAL CLASSES: This part is given in one weekly lesson. These classes whenever possible and justified, will be related to practical examples preferentially with case studies.
PRACTICAL CLASSES: Practical classes derived from the syllabus consists mainly on accompanying field trips of projects in course, study trips, participation in experiences and laboratory works and analyses of video grams and other auxiliary media as well as discussing thesis, reports and scientific papers.
Alcock, J. 1989. Animal Behaviour – An Evolutionary Approach (4th Edition). Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachussets.
Brown, J. L. 1975. The Evolution of Behaviour. Norton, N.Y.
Dawkins, M. S., T. R. Halliday & R. Dawkins (editors) 1991. The Tinbergen Legacy. Chapman & Hall, London.
Dröscher, V. B. 1979. Sobreviver – A Grande Lição do Reino Animal. Livros do Brasil, Lisboa.
Fraser, A. F. (ed.) 1985. Ethology of Farm Animals – A Comprehensive Study of the Behavioural Features of the Common Farm Animals. Elsevier, N. Y.
Godin, J.-G. J. (editor) 1988. Behavioural Ecology of Teleost Fishes. Oxford University Press Inc., N.Y.
Goodenough, J., B. McGuire & R. A. Wallace 1993. Perspectives on Animal Behavior. John Wiley & Sons, N. Y.
Houpt, K. A. 2005. Domestic Animal Behaviour (4th Edition). Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, U.K.
Jensen, P. (ed.) 2005. The Ethology of Domestic Animals – An Introductory Text (3rd Edition). CABI Publishing, Wallingford, U. K.
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