Primate Ethology, 9 credits

Primatetologi, 9 hp

NBID61

Main field of study

Biology

Course level

Second cycle

Course type

Programme course

Examiner

Matthias Laska

Director of studies or equivalent

Agneta Johansson

Education components

Preliminary scheduled hours: 184 h
Recommended self-study hours: 56 h

Available for exchange students

Yes
ECV = Elective / Compulsory / Voluntary
Course offered for Semester Period Timetable module Language Campus ECV
6METH Applied Ethology and Animal Biology, Master's programme 2 (Spring 2017) 2 1+2+3+4 English Linköping, Valla C

Main field of study

Biology

Course level

Second cycle

Advancement level

A1X

Course offered for

  • Applied Ethology and Animal Biology, Master's programme

Entry requirements

Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission requirements for the programme and threshold requirements for progression within the programme, or corresponding.

Prerequisites

120 ECTS including 90 ECTS in Biology and an advanced course in Ethology.

Intended learning outcomes

The student will increase her/his understanding of the evolutionary origins and ecological determinants of primate behavior.
The student will develop a proficiency in finding, evaluating and compiling primary and secondary research literature on a specific topic.
The student will learn to design and conduct behavioral observations on primate social communication, and experiments on primate learning, and to perform proper analysis of the data obtained.
The student will improve her/his skills in summarizing and communicating the results of her/his own experimental results as well as of literature searches in both written and oral form.

Course content

The course is centered around different aspects of primate ethology. Topics include :

  • Primate evolution
  • Primate social systems
  • Primate breeding systems
  • Primate cognition
  • Intelligence and learning
  • Communication with humans
  • Altruism and infanticide
  • The sensory world of primates

Teaching and working methods

The course is composed of formal lectures, literature assignments, and laboratory exercises, each with its own evaluation scheme. The lectures are intended to give an introduction to the different topics outlined below and serve as a starting point for the student´s assignments. The literature assignments in small groups require the presentation of a one-page summary and of an oral presentation to all other fellow students. The laboratory exercises require the writing of a lab report using quantitative methods and of an oral presentation. Extra costs due to travelling and living must be paid by the students.

Examination

LAB1Laboratory reports3 creditsU, 3, 4, 5
UPG1Literature assignments and presentation3 creditsU, 3, 4, 5
HEM1Written examination3 creditsU, 3, 4, 5
The final grade is the average across the score of the three examination aspects in the course.

Grades

Four-grade scale, LiU, U, 3, 4, 5

Department

Institutionen för fysik, kemi och biologi

Director of Studies or equivalent

Agneta Johansson

Examiner

Matthias Laska

Course website and other links

Education components

Preliminary scheduled hours: 184 h
Recommended self-study hours: 56 h

Course literature

Rekommenderade (men inte obligatoriskt) läroböcker: Michael Tomasello & Josip Call: Primate Cognition Oxford University Press, Oxford 1997 Richard Byrne: The thinking ape : Evolutionary origins of intelligence Oxford University Press, Oxford 1995 Frans de Waal: Tree of origin: What primate behavior can tell us about human social evolution Harvard University Press, Cambridge 2001 Noel Rowe: The pictorial guide to the living primates Pogonias Press, East Hampton 1996 Alla böcker finns på TekNat-biblioteket.
Code Name Scope Grading scale
LAB1 Laboratory reports 3 credits U, 3, 4, 5
UPG1 Literature assignments and presentation 3 credits U, 3, 4, 5
HEM1 Written examination 3 credits U, 3, 4, 5
The final grade is the average across the score of the three examination aspects in the course.

Regulations (apply to LiU in its entirety)

The university is a government agency whose operations are regulated by legislation and ordinances, which include the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance. In addition to legislation and ordinances, operations are subject to several policy documents. The Linköping University rule book collects currently valid decisions of a regulatory nature taken by the university board, the vice-chancellor and faculty/department boards.

LiU’s rule book for education at first-cycle and second-cycle levels is available at http://styrdokument.liu.se/Regelsamling/Innehall/Utbildning_pa_grund-_och_avancerad_niva. 

Rekommenderade (men inte obligatoriskt) läroböcker: Michael Tomasello & Josip Call: Primate Cognition Oxford University Press, Oxford 1997 Richard Byrne: The thinking ape : Evolutionary origins of intelligence Oxford University Press, Oxford 1995 Frans de Waal: Tree of origin: What primate behavior can tell us about human social evolution Harvard University Press, Cambridge 2001 Noel Rowe: The pictorial guide to the living primates Pogonias Press, East Hampton 1996 Alla böcker finns på TekNat-biblioteket.

Note: The course matrix might contain more information in Swedish.

I = Introduce, U = Teach, A = Utilize
I U A Modules Comment
1. DISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE AND REASONING
1.1 Knowledge of underlying mathematics and science (G1X level)
X
X

                            
1.2 Fundamental engineering knowledge (G1X level)

                            
1.3 Further knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural science (G2X level)
X
X
X

                            
1.4 Advanced knowledge, methods, and tools in one or several subjects in engineering or natural sciences (A1X level)

                            
1.5 Insight into current research and development work

                            
2. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
2.1 Analytical reasoning and problem solving

                            
2.2 Experimentation, investigation, and knowledge discovery
X
X
X

                            
2.3 System thinking
X
X
X

                            
2.4 Attitudes, thought, and learning
X
X
X

                            
2.5 Ethics, equity, and other responsibilities
X
X
X

                            
3. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION
3.1 Teamwork
X
X
X

                            
3.2 Communications
X
X
X

                            
3.3 Communication in foreign languages
X
X
X

                            
4. CONCEIVING, DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING SYSTEMS IN THE ENTERPRISE, SOCIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT
4.1 External, societal, and environmental context

                            
4.2 Enterprise and business context

                            
4.3 Conceiving, system engineering and management

                            
4.4 Designing

                            
4.5 Implementing

                            
4.6 Operating

                            
5. PLANNING, EXECUTION AND PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH RESPECT TO SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Societal conditions, including economic, social, and ecological aspects of sustainable development for knowledge development

                            
5.2 Economic conditions for knowledge development

                            
5.3 Identification of needs, structuring and planning of research or development projects
X
X
X

                            
5.4 Execution of research or development projects
X
X
X

                            
5.5 Presentation and evaluation of research or development projects
X
X
X

                            

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