In short, behavioural ecology is about how behaviour changes survival and reproduction, which in turn depends on ecological factors, such as resource use, predation dynamics, and competition.This evolutionary process is the focus of the course and in order to understand it, the initial lectures are about the scientific method (type of questions asked, hypothesis testing, evaluation of results), evolution via natural/sexual selection, and analytical tools used in behavioural ecology, e.g. optimality theory and evolutionarily stable strategies. The remainder of the course is in-depth analyses of feeding, aggession, group formation, assessment of opponents, mating and parental behaviour, selfish/unselfish behaviour, and signalling in animals.

Students should

• master the relevant evolutionary theory
• be able to use the analytical tools in behavioural ecology
• understand the evolution of various behaviours
• understand the interaction between ecology and evolution in shaping a particular behaviour
• understand the effects of confounding and constraing ecological factors
• be familiar with models and analytical approach in important studies in behavioural ecology

Oral presentation, field course. Approved mandatory activities are valid for 6 semesters.