Ethology and Evolution

Paper Code: 
ZOL-601
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:

This course will enable the students to

1. The course objective is to provide understanding on evolutionary biology that introduces students to the major principles of evolutionary theory, and ranges from the origins of life, through the evolution of animals to the evolution of behaviour.

2. To learn about various aspects of evolution as variation, isolation, speciation and adaptation in organism.

3. Understanding about fossils, dinosaurs and geological division of earth crust.

4. Learn about concepts of ethology, mammalian nervous system and behaviour, methods of studying brain and behaviour Social organization of different animals and role of pheromones in communication.

 

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

ZOL- 601

Ethology and Evolution

The students will be able to –

CO-63 Understand the evidence that living species share descent from common ancestry and how this fact explains the traits of living species

CO-64  Acquire knowledge on evolution changes, genetic composition of populations, variation, isolation, speciation and adaptation etc

CO-65 Understand importance of ethology, diversity of animal behaviour

CO-66 Understand correlation between mammalian nervous system and behaviour

CO-67 Understand the social organization of different animals

The approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration,

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks,

Class test

Semester end examinations

Quiz

Solving problems in tutorials

Assignments Presentation

Individual and group projects

 

9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I
Chemical origin of Life
Lamarckism & Darwinism
Neo- Lamarckism & Neo-Darwinism
Elementary idea of Hardy-Weinberg Law(Factor affecting)

 

9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II
Variation 
Isolation and Speciation
Adaptations (Structural adaptations-Aerial ,Aquatic, Scansorial, ,Fossorial, Cursorial, Desert)
Geological division of the Earth crust
 

 

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III
Zoogeographical distribution: Principal zoogeographical regions of the world with reference to their mammalian fauna
Continental drift
Fossils, imperfection of fossil record
Study of Extinct forms: Dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx 
 

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV
 
Introduction of Ethology (Contribution of Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, Karl Von Frisch) 
Concepts of Ethology: Fixed action pattern, Sign stimulus, Innate releasing mechanism, Action specific energy, motivation, imprinting & learning
Elementary idea of role of Pheromones

 

9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V
Methods of studying brain behaviour(Laboratory): Neuroanatomical, Neurophysiological, Neurochemical techniques
Societies: Characteristics & advantages
Social organization : Mating strategies, societies of Ants, Deer, and Monkeys 
 

 

Essential Readings: 
Evolution, V.B.Rastogi, KedarNath, Ram Nath, Merrut.
Animal Behaviour; Mathur, R.; Rastogi Publications, Meerut Introduction to evolution; Moody.

 

References: 
An introduction to behaviour; Manning, A & Dawkins, M. S.; Cambridge Low Price Edition. UK.
 
Animal Behaviour, David McFarland, Pitman Publishing Ltd, London, UK.
 
Animal Behaviour, John Alcock, Sinaeur Assoc. Inc. USA.
 
Genetics and Origin of Species. Dohnzhansky, Th., F.J.Alaya, G.L.Stebbines and J.M.Valentine. Surjeet Publication, Delhi. 
 
Evolutionary Biology, Futuyamma, D.J.Suinuauer Associates, INC Publishers, Sunderland.  
 
Evolution, Barton et al.,Cold Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, USA.
 
Evolution, Hall, B. K. and Hallgrimsson, James and Bartlett Publisher, Sudbury, USA.
 
Exploring Animal Behaviour, Paul, W. Sherman and John Alcock, Sinaeur Assoc. Inc, Massachusetts, USA.
 
Genes and Evolution. JhaA.P.John Publication, New Delhi 
 
Evolution and Genetics Merral, D.J.Holt, Rinchart and Winston, Inc. 
 
Evolutionary Genetics. Smith,J.M. Oxford University Press, New York. 
 
Evolution. Strikberger, M.W.Jones and Barlett Publishers, Boston London chordates
 

 

Academic Year: