Principles of animal communication 1400-238KZ
The lecture in the first half of the semester covers the following topics:
1. What is communication; cues and signals; signal evolution; signal classifications; cost and honesty of signals
2. Signal evolution, signal precursors
3. Sound signals; production of sound signals; propagation and reception of sound signals; body size and sound signals
4. Vocalization in birds with an innate repertoire and in birds that need to learn their songs; anatomical and neural differences in these groups; similarities and differences compared to human language
5. Visual signals; production and modification of visual signals; transmission of visual signals in the environment; reception of visual signal
6. Chemical signals; types of chemicals used by animals for communications; production, durability and spread of chemical signals; chemoreception; Other types of signals used by animals (touch signals, electrical signals)
7. Signals produced in conflict situations and threats; strategies for resolving conflicts at a distance; signaling aggression, domination, de-escalation; alarm and deterrent signals
8. Signals produced between partners and between parents and offspring; strategies and signals produced during courtship; signals strengthening male-female integration; signals in within-family groups
9. Communication networks; eavesdropping and unreliable signaling; transmitting information in larger social groups; vocalisation in duets
10. Propagation of signals in the environment; degradation of frequency, amplitude, directivity; acoustic niches
Exercises are carried out in the classroom and during a 5-day field course at the field station of the Faculty of Biology in Urwitałt (updated information in the COMMENTS for a given year).
During the exercise (field course), students will learn to recognize the song and calls of birds (common forest, meadow and wetland species), learn how to use bioacoustic equipment to record sound in field conditions, and how to analyse the collected material in sound analysis programs.
Students will make their own observations and simple experiments on the following issues:
1. Vocal repertoire and daily singing activity of selected bird species.
2. How do birds recognize other individuals - discriminant analysis of individuals in species with a simple voice structure
3. Singing solo or singing in a duet - analysis of the sound signals and functions of cooperative singing in birds
4. Territorial defence - analysis of aggressive signals and defence strategies of selected bird species
5. Adaptation of sound signals to specific conditions in the environment of a given species - analysis of the structure and propagation of the birds’ song and calls in various habitats
Some of the exercises in the classroom will take the form of workshops and seminars.
More information on field course can be found in the "Comments" section.
Main fields of studies for MISMaP
environmental protection
Type of course
elective courses
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
1. Has knowledge of the ways, forms and functions of communication between individuals in the animal world (K_W08)
2. Knows and understands the interrelationships between the habitat and the diversity and complexity of the signals generated (K_W09)
3. Has knowledge about the evolution of voices and communication strategies of birds in various aspects of life (K_W08, K_W11)
4. Is able to define and distinguish what is proper communication, signal and cues (K_W12)
5. Knows the basic methods and techniques for conducting bioacoustic research (K_W15)
6. Knows appropriate methods for sound analysis (bioacoustic data) (KW_16)
Abilities:
1. Is able to use basic techniques and research tools in bioacoustic study (K_U01)
2. Reads and understands scientific texts in a foreign language and communicates in a foreign language at B2 level (K_U02)
3. Is able to analyze the results obtained and discuss them based on the available literature (K_U03)
4. Is able to use various sound analysis programs, graphic and statistical programs to process the obtained results (K_U04, K_U08)
5. Can perform simple observations or experiments using the bioacoustic methods learned under the supervision of a scientific supervisor (K_U06)
6. Can present the results obtained in the form of a multimedia presentation (K_U07)
Social abilities:
1. Expands interest in natural sciences (behavioral ecology) (K_K01)
2. Feels the need for continuous training and updating knowledge on topics related to animal behavioral ecology (K_K04)
3. Demonstrates the ability to work in a group, taking on different roles in it (K_K07)
Critically analyzes the information appearing in the mass media and scientific literature (K_K08)
Assessment criteria
Lecture
1) written exam (test and descriptive exam, min. 50% + 1 points)
Class
2) scientific project carried out in a group (evaluation of project implementation and presentation of its results)
3) scientific presentation on the basis of professional literature received (assessment of the scientific presentation prepared on the basis of a scientific article discussing the issues raised in the lecture)
The final grade will be a weighted average of the grades obtained.
Bibliography
• Bradbury J.W., Vehrencamp S.L. 2011. Principles of animal communication. Sinauer Associates, USA.
• Catchpole C.K., Slater P.J.B. 2008. Bird song: biological temes and variations. Cambridge University Press, UK.
• Gill F.B., Prum R.O., Robinson S.K. 2019. Ornithology. W. H. Freeman, USA.
• Nicholas B. Davies, John R. Krebs, Stuart A. West 2012. An introduction to behavioural ecology. Wiley-Blackwell, USA.
Notes
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Term 2023L:
This year, the course will be carried out during 10 consecutive weeks and two field trips (45 hours in total, 3 ECTS). Classes in the classroom will include 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of exercises (30 hours in total). Field exercises will take place on two selected Saturdays (15 hours in total). The date and place of classes will be agreed upon during the first class of the course. A field trip is not planned this year. |
Term 2024L:
This year, the course will be carried out during 10 consecutive weeks and two field trips (45 hours in total, 3 ECTS). Classes in the classroom will include 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of exercises (30 hours in total). Field exercises will take place on two selected Saturdays (15 hours in total). The date and place of classes will be agreed upon during the first class of the course. A field trip is not planned this year. |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: