| Unit name | Communication and Cognition in Animal Societies |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL30012 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. King |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Communication is ubiquitous in animal societies and a central part of animal social behaviour. One signal produced by an individual has the power to induce a response in a receiver that, in turn, can alter the behaviour of the signalling animal. Communication signals, therefore, facilitate the exchange of information between individuals, often directly affecting individual Darwinian fitness. In this unit we will explore how complex communication and social cognition guide animal decision-making, by providing fundamental insights into animal minds and the function of communicative signals in diverse taxa. We will describe the importance of animal communication and cognition in mediating social behaviours and how communication networks can shape social cognition. We will discuss why some species have bigger brains than others and consider the relationship between brain size and social cognition. We will also examine the evolution of complex communication in animals and the similarities and differences with human language evolution, and how flexible communication systems can facilitate cultural diversity in animal societies. Throughout the unit we will place particular emphasis on the innovative techniques and experimental designs currently used to study communication and cognition in both captive and wild animal populations.
By the end of this unit, students will:
Lectures, directed reading, research and/or problem-solving activities; and independent study.
Summative written assessment, with one essay question to be selected from a choice of two.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOL30012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
