Animal Behavior Course Outline Ms. Fabbri 2001-02 Does it have to have four legs to be an animal? Animal evolution and taxonomy Animal consciousness What is behavior? Why do we study behavior? Methods used to study behavior (classroom pets & outdoor observation) Ethical issues Darwin and animal behavior The spineless ones Invertebrate evolution and taxonomy How many legs does it have? (arthropod observation) Class presentation #1 Field trip #1 What's for dinner? Food preferences (sow bugs) Feeding & defense techniques (hydra, planaria, crayfish) Those with backbones Vertebrate evolution and taxonomy If it has hair, it must be a mammal Can you teach your dog to sit? Instinct & Imprinting Types of learning & mouse mazes Does your cat have a better social life than you? Communication & social systems Courtship, mating & parenting Agonism & aggression (Siamese fighting fish) Class presentation #2 Field trip #2 Animal Travels Gray whale & bird migration What makes you different from a chimpanzee? Primate evolution & taxonomy ("Gorillas in the Mist")