Psychology 3221G 001 FW25
Animal Behaviour
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Winter 2026
Psychology 3221G Section 001
Animal Behaviour
1 Calendar Description
An introduction to the scientific study of animal behaviour, emphasizing evolutionary and ecological influences on behaviour. Recent research from the field and the laboratory will be used to illustrate such topics as communication, foraging, orientation, territoriality, mate choice, altruism, and animal cognition.
Antirequisite: Biology 3436F/G
3 lecture hours;
Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 Course Information
Instructor: Dr. Carrie Branch
Office & Phone: see Brightspace
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: cbranch6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Time and Location of Classes: see Student Centre for Timetable
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3 Course Materials
Rubenstein. 2022 Animal Behavior 12th Edition. Oxford University Press: UK.
Approximate cost from Amazon.ca = $200.00
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of animal behaviour, along with more advanced discussion of selected topics. Psychologists and zoologists, as well as naturalists, philosophers, and others have always asked why animals and people behave as they do. This course examines the answers that are provided by modern research in animal behaviour. The causes of behaviour, the functions that behaviour serves, how behaviour develops, and how it has evolved will all be examined. The influence of natural selection on behaviour and the adaptive consequences of behaviour are emphasized. Examples and illustrations are drawn from recent research in animal communication, foraging, navigation and orientation, sexual behaviour, social organization, animal cognition, and other topics.
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
|
Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing essay
|
Term Test Class presentation Essay Final Exam
|
|
Knowledge of Methodologies.
|
Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing essay |
Term Test Class presentation Essay Final Exam |
|
Application of Knowledge.
|
Reading Participating in class discussion Preparing for class presentation Writing essay |
Term Test Pre-class quizzes Class presentation Essay Final Exam |
|
Communication Skills.
|
Participating in class discussion Delivering class presentation Writing essay |
Term Test Pre-class quizzes Class presentation Essay Final exam |
5 Evaluation
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives.
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives. Attendance and active participation during lecture are strongly encouraged and will be 10% of your final grade. The term test (20%) and the final examination (20%) will consist of short answer and essay questions on lectures and text material. The final exam will emphasize lecture and course material not previously examined in the term test, although understanding of some basic ideas and concepts may be examined in both the term test and the final exam. The group presentation (10%) consists of a 30-minute presentation by students in groups, on a topic chosen to illustrate how research in animal behaviour is done in the field and in the lab. Each student will be assigned a research paper on the topic and the presentation will be a collective project by all members of the group. Non-presenting students will be required to read the papers and pre-class quizzes on these readings will make up 10% of the final grade. The essay (20%) is a written discussion by each student of their assigned research paper and is strictly an individual, not group, effort. The written assignment is due one week following the presentation and should be 10 typed, double-spaced pages in length (~2500 words). Style should follow the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual 6th Edition. Finally, the ethogram assignment and short presentation (10-15 mins) will be worth 10% of your grade. You will be required to observe any non-domestic animal of your choice for 2 hours, a spreadsheet with your observations and short presentations (shares) will be due on the last day of class.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
For all missing assignments, students will receive a zero. Late assignments will be accepted within 14 days of the due date, but will be penalized 3% for each day the assignment is late.
Make-Up exams will be held within one week of the original exam for excused absences for the Term and Final exams.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.
This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Assignment Percent of grade Due date
In class participation 10% weekly
Reading quizzes 10% weekly
Term test 20% February 26
Group presentation 10% various
Essay 20% 1 week after presentation, various
Ethogram assignment & Pres 10% April 9
Final exam 20% TBA
7 Class Schedule
|
Date |
Topic |
Text chapters and assignments |
|
January 8 |
What is animal behaviour? |
1 |
|
January 15 |
Bird song as example of Tinbergen’s 4 questions |
2 |
|
January 22 |
Communication |
8 |
|
January 29 |
Foraging, predation, and optimality +Group 1 pres. |
6 Reading quiz |
|
February 5 |
Social evolution & sociality +Group 2 pres. |
12,13 Reading quiz |
|
February 12 |
Territoriality & movement +Group 3 pres. |
7 Reading quiz |
|
February 19 |
Reading Week |
|
|
February 26 |
Term test 1 ½ hours |
|
|
March 5
|
Sex and sexual selection +Group 4 pres. |
9 Reading quiz |
|
March 12 |
Mating systems +Group 5 pres. |
10 Reading quiz |
|
March 19 |
Parental care +Group 6 pres. |
11 Reading quiz |
|
March 26 |
Development of behaviour +Group 7 pres. |
3 Reading quiz |
|
April 2 |
Brain and behaviour +Group 8 pres. |
4,5 Reading quiz |
|
April 9 |
Ethogram shares |
Ethogram Assignment due through Brightspace |
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
Students are required to silence and put phones away during all in class lectures.
All electronic devices, including phones and laptops, will need to be put away during midterms and final exams.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
