Applied Animal Behaviour

Subject DASC30005 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 lectures (2 x I h per week); & 1 tutorial (weekly)
Total Time Commitment:

72 hours in a total contact time of 120 hours
Prerequisites:

A physiology subject at 200 level such as:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites: N/A
Recommended Background Knowledge:

Recommended Background Knowledge:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Paul Hemsworth

Contact

Email: phh@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: 8344 8383

Subject Overview:

This subject allows students to examine the behaviour of farm, companion and laboratory animals and highlights the processes and factors involved in cause and effect manipulating behavioural functionality. The subject will train students to describe, record and measure behaviour, examine the development of behaviour in a range of species; examine the effects of stimuli and communications; motivation, decision making, learning and memory; genetic and hormonal basis of behaviour; organisation, social, sexual, maternal, and dam-neonate interactions.

Topics covered include:

  • describing, recording and measuring behaviour; development of behaviour;
  • stimuli and communication;
  • motivation and decision making;
  • learning and memory;
  • genetic influences on behaviour;
  • hormonal influences on behaviour;
  • organisation of behaviour;
  • social behaviour; sexual behaviour; and
  • maternal behaviour and dam-neonate interactions; and behavioural problems.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of animal behaviour, and identify factors that are essential in the humane care and efficient management of these domestic animals.

2. Describe and examine the behaviour of farm, companion and laboratory animals

3. Demonstrate our understanding of the causation and function of behaviour.
Assessment: A 3-hour examination (end of semester), which may include essay and short-answer sections (50%), one written presentation (2000 words, 35%, due late-semester) and one oral presentation (15%, due last week of semester
Prescribed Texts: N/A
Recommended Texts:

  • Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare (A F Fraser and D M Broom), CAB International, 1990
  • The Ethology of Domestic Animals. An Introductory Text. (P. Jensen), CAB International, Oxon, U.K., 2002.
  • An Introduction to Animal Behaviour (A Manning and M S Dawkins), 4th edn, CUP, 1993
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On completion of the subject the students should have developed the following generic skills: Academic excellence, greater in-depth understanding of scientific disciplines of animal behaviour and its application to the humane care and efficient management of farm and companion animals. The student’s flexibility and level of transferable skills should be enhanced through improved time management and enhanced ability to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats
Notes:

This subject involves the use of animals. Students should be aware that this is an essential part of the course and exemption from this component is not possible.

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Science
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Animal Behaviour and Welfare
Animal Disease Biotechnology

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