Unit information: Biology of Behaviour and Welfare in 2016/17

Unit name	Biology of Behaviour and Welfare
Unit code	VETSM0041
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Held
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will introduce the basic biological principles underlying animal behaviour and welfare as are relevant to wild animals. As such it will provide students with the fundamental tools to understand and reflect on the application of animal behaviour to practical wildlife problems. Case studies will include examples from wild, domesticated and managed animals in a variety of natural and captive environments. Teaching will be informed by current and emerging research.

The unit will cover fundamental concepts in ethology and behavioural ecology with a focus on the evolutionary, life-time and short-time adaptiveness of an animal’s behaviour in changing environmental conditions. The unit will also provide an introduction to the physiology and endocrinology of an animal’s response stress.

These basic principles will lead on to consideration of behavioural restriction and abnormal behaviour in managed and captive animals and methods for the scientific measurement of welfare.

The content of this unit will underpin subsequent programme units that examine indicators of animal welfare and scientific methods for their assessment in greater depth, along with welfare legislation and ethical considerations associated with management of animals and their environments.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

1. Describe and demonstrate understanding and integration of the basic scientific principles of animal behaviour and welfare.
2. Reflect on the application of behavioural principles to the management of animals and their environments.
3. Where appropriate, show originality in applying knowledge to current or new problems in their field.
4. Effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis.

Teaching Information

A combination of lectures, interactive tutorials and self-guided learning.

Assessment Information

Assessment will be by a combination of coursework (50%) and end-of-unit written examination (50%). The coursework will be a writing task such as an essay on the practical application of behaviour and welfare principles to wild animal management. The written examination will assess knowledge of key principles of animal behaviour and welfare science, its application and effective communication.

Reading and References

• Alcock, J. (2009). Animal Behavior: an evolutionary approach (9th Edition) Sinauer Associates.
• Barnard, C. (2004). Animal Behaviour: Mechanisms, Development, Function and Evolution. Pearson Education.
• Blumstein, D.T. and Fernandez-Juricic, E. (2010). A primer of conservation behaviour. Sinauer Associates.
• Davies, N.B., Krebs, J.R. and West, S.A. (2012). An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology (4th Edition) Wiley.