BZ 300 Animal Behavior

Overview of Course

This course explores animal behavior through the lens of ecological and evolutionary theory to understand how and why animals behave in their natural environments. Students will investigate core topics in behavioral ecology including foraging strategies, mate choice and sexual selection, kinship and cooperation, and animal cognition. We will examine how life history and physiological traits underpin adaptive behaviors and influence population dynamics. Emphasizing the scientific process, students will learn how to systematically observe and collect data on animal behavior, design studies, and test hypotheses, skills essential for the rigorous study of behavioral ecology. The Semester at Sea voyage offers a unique opportunity to study animal behavior in diverse, natural settings. Students will observe a wide range of animal species, from primates and birds to marine life and insects, at ports including Brazil, Cape Town, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, highlighting the incredible variety of behavioral adaptations across the animal kingdom. In addition to studying animals themselves, we will critically analyze how human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and wildlife consumption, influence animal behavior. By the end of the voyage, students will develop a deeper understanding of animal behavior’s evolutionary roots, ecological context, and the complex interplay between human and animal lives in a changing world, along with practical skills in behavioral research.