Ethology & Evolution

Paper Code: 
ZOL-601
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
This course will enable the students to 
 
1. Appraise evolutionary biology that introduces major principles of evolutionary theory and  origins of life through the evolution of animals to the evolution of behaviour. 
2. Develop concepts about various aspects of evolution such as variation, isolation, speciation  and adaptation in organisms. 
3. Understand about fossils, dinosaurs and geological division of earth crust. 
4. Explain 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

Learning outcomes 

(at course level)

Learning and 

teaching 

strategies

Assessment 

Strategies

Paper

Code

Paper 

Title

ZOL 

601

Ethology 

and 

Evolution

The students will 

CO-63 Critically analyze the evidences that living  species share descent from  common ancestry and how  this fact explains the traits  of living species

CO-64 Acquire knowledge  on evolutionary changes,  genetic composition of 

populations, variation, 

isolation, speciation and  adaptation etc

CO-65 Develop importance  of ethology & diversity of  animal behaviour 

CO-66 Correlate between  mammalian nervous system  and behaviour

CO-67 Relate 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: 
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: 
ESSENTIAL READINGS:
● Evolution, V.B.Rastogi, Kedar Nath, Ram Nath, Merrut. 
Genes and Evolution. JhaA.P  .John Publication, New Delhi 
● Animal Behaviour; Mathur, R.; Rastogi Publications, Meerut Introduction to evolution;  Moody. 
 
SUGGESTED READINGS: 
● 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, Sinauer Assoc. Inc. USA. 
● Genetics and Origin of Species. Dobzhansky, Th., F.J.Alaya, G.L.Stebbins and  J.M.Valentine. Surjeet Publication, Delhi. 
● Evolutionary Biology, Futuyamma, D.J.Sinauer Associates, INC Publishers, Sunderland. 
● Evolution, Hall, B. K. and Hallgrimsson, James and Bartlett Publisher, Sudbury, USA. 
● Exploring Animal Behaviour, Paul, W. Sherman and John Alcock, Sinauer Assoc. Inc,  Massachusetts, USA. 
● 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
 
e-RESOURCES: 
 
e –JOURNALS:
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Evolution and Human behavior
Nature Ecology and Evolution
 
Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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