You’ve probably watched nature documentaries and heard the narrator say that a behaviour ensures the survival of the species, or is designed to maintain nature’s balance. This is scientifically nonsense. But do you know why? Do you understand, for example, why the existence of worker ants and meerkats that help others breed is so hard to explain? The answers are found in behavioural ecology.

 

In this course, we aim to understand how natural selection generates animals that are adapted to both their physical and social environment. We emphasize how to test evolutionary hypotheses about animal behaviour and performance. Our lectures are in five modules that cover key topics: the trade-off between survival and reproduction, evolutionary arms races, the evolution of cooperation, the principles of animal communication, the perils of sex, and animal culture. We consider such questions as: How do animals balance the need to get food yet avoid predators? Can animals lie? Why are males usually bad parents? Why don’t parents produce only daughters? Why are animals choosy when mating? Why do lions cooperate to hunt? We also emphasise the importance of behavioural ecology to conservation. If we know the predictors of fitness for individuals, we can better predict population growth and responses to environmental change. Behavioural ecology therefore provides the holistic understanding needed for practical conservation. ANU has a word-class behavioural ecology group, and we include our current research alongside that carried out worldwide. Our overall aim is to help you develop a logical approach to understand and test any question in evolutionary biology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Recognise when behaviour poses difficulties for accepted wisdom and theory.
2. Think strategically on how to formulate and test adaptive hypotheses.
3. Communicate problems and their solutions to both the general public and other scientists.
4. Read the literature critically to assimilate views on new findings and present these in writing.
5. Understand how knowledge about animal behaviour can translate into conservation action.

Research-Led Teaching

This course is focussed on current research and how to test ideas about animal behaviour using evolutionary theory. Lectures cover classic studies, recent research and current work carried out by the course lecturers. Workshops consolidate and extend understanding of principles and research strategies, and workshop assignments test critical thinking and application of this knowledge .

Examination Material or equipment

No materials permitted in the examinations

Required Resources

Textbook: Davies et al. 2012. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. 4th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	3 x 1 hour lectures
2	3 x 1 hour lectures
3	3 x 1 hour lectures 1 x 3 hour workshop	Workshop 1 Practical Assignment due
4	3 x 1 hour lectures
5	3 x 1 hour lectures
6	2 x 1 hour lectures 1 x 3 hour workshop	Workshop 2 Practical Assignment due
7	3 x 1 hour lectures	Mid semester quiz
8	3 x 1 hour lectures
9	3 x 1 hour lectures
10	3 x 1 hour lectures
11	3 x 1 hour lectures 1 x 3 hour workshop
12	3 x 1 hour lectures 1 x 3 hour workshop	Workshop 3 Practical Assignment due

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Workshop 1 Practical Assignment (10%)	10 %	11/03/2026	18/03/2026	1,2,3,4,5
Workshop 2 Practical Assignment (10%)	10 %	01/04/2026	08/04/2026	1,2,3,4,5
Mid-semester quiz (30%)	30 %	15/04/2026	06/05/2026	1,2,3,5
Workshop 3 & 4: Wild Study and Poster Presentation (20%)	20 %	27/05/2026	25/06/2026	1,2,3,4,5
Final exam (30%)	30 %	04/06/2026	09/07/2026	1,2,3,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students will need to prepare for and participate in the workshops, including in small group tasks. They may be required to submit short, written exercises or do a poster or oral presentation during the workshops.

Examination(s)

The course has two examinations each worth 30%, mid-semester quiz held in class during week 7 and the final examination period.

It is a requirement of the course that students must average at least 40% over the two exams as well at least 50% overall to pass the course.

Assessment Task 1

Workshop 1 Practical Assignment (10%)

The aim of this exercise is to introduce you to approaches for measuring, analysing and interpreting animal behaviour. In this first exercise, you will design and conduct an experiment to test fundamental theory about optimal foraging behaviour, after which you will individually visualise your results and write a short, assessable report. This will be submitted either at the end of class or by the end of that week.

Assessment Task 2

Workshop 2 Practical Assignment (10%)

The aim of this exercise is to introduce you to approaches for studying animal movements. In this second exercise, you will be given real data from global movements of marine animals, and learn methods to analyse and interpret this data. After this, you will write a short, assessable report. This will be submitted either at the end of class or by the end of that week.

Assessment Task 3

Mid-semester quiz (30%)

The course has a mid-semester quiz and a final examination, each worth 30%, which are held in week 7 and the final examination period.

It is a requirement of the course that students must get an average of at least 40% over the two exams as well at least 50% overall to pass the course.

Assessment Task 4

Workshop 3 & 4: Wild Study and Poster Presentation (20%)

With the skills you have developed from the previous lectures and workshops, you will now design a study to observe animal behaviour in the wild, with some flexibility to develop your own hypothesis. In small groups, you will collect data on wild animals around campus during the workshop, and then use statistical analyses and visualisations to interpret your findings. You will summarise your study in the form of a poster, and present this poster to the class in workshop 4, at our end-of-semester 'mini scientific conference'.

Assessment Task 5

Final exam (30%)

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ANUHub.

Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Marked assessment will be left at the Teaching and Learning Centre or returned during workshops.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments is not normally permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students