Week 9

Oct 25th

Foraging Behaviorcrow

The principles of foraging are common to all animal species, even if the actual behaviors exhibited are very diverse. The foraging process can be though of as a number of decisions made by the forager. These decisions must be made based upon available information, past experience, and neural calculations.

READ:
Dugatkin Chapter 10

 

EXTRA READING (not required)
Douglas, Ken Dawson-Scully and Marla B. Sokolowski (2005) The neurogenetics and evolution of food-related bhaviour. Trends in Neuroscience 128:644-652.mole
Catania & Remple (2005) Asymptotic prey profitability drives star-nosed moles to the foraging speed limit. Nature 433:519.

This is one of my favorites! Every year at neuroscience I look to see what new work has been done with this amazing animal. I enjoy this research program because it really considers all 4 of Tinbergen's questions simultaneously (you won't see that in this paper but, read more and you will).

 

 

Oct 27th & 29th

STUDENT Who's Who PRESENTATIONS

It is difficult to learn what it is “like” to be a biologist by taking courses in biology. This is true even with the research focus in the courses at Reed College. Luckily, several biologists have written books about their experiences.

Each student will read one book from the list provided. Most of these books are written by an Animal Behavior research, though a few are written about an Animal Behavior researcher. In addition to reading the book, each student will find one primary research paper by the same scientist. Students will then present a brief “Who is Who” revealing the personal and professional information they have learned about these individuals.

The books:
1) Books (listed below) will be available on reserve for the first 5 weeks of class.
2) After week 5 it will be possible to check these books out.
3) Other books may be used if approved by the professor.
4) No more than 1 student from each section should read a particular book

The presentation:
1) Will be 3-4 minutes long
2) Will include images primarily representative of the book
3) May include a figure from the primary research paper
4) Is meant to be fun.
NOT be brought to class on a USB flash drive.)