| Unit name | Staying Alive: The Behaviour, Psychology and Ecology of Predator-Prey Interactions |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL30010 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Christos Ioannou |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Predator-prey interactions are a major force in evolution, shaping morphology, physiology and behaviour; they also drive many population processes. This is because, for prey, predation is a major source of mortality and, for predators, it provides the major source of energy and nutrients. A complete understanding of predator-prey interactions is a fundamentally multidisciplinary enterprise, not only linking evolution and ecology but also with inputs from animal behaviour and psychology, because seeking prey and avoiding attack require an understanding of perception and decision-making. In this unit, we survey this exciting and growing field from these multiple perspectives, extending principles covered in second year behaviour and behavioural ecology units to understand issues as diverse as habitat selection, search behaviour, escape, armour, colouration (camouflage, warning coloration, mimicry), and social behaviour from group hunting to collective defence. Throughout the unit we particularly emphasise the need to understand predator traits as well as the anti-predator traits in prey, the ecological impacts of predator-prey interactions, and how technology has been developed and used to study predator-prey interactions.
By the end of this unit, students should be able to:
Lectures, directed reading, research and/or problem-solving activities; and independent study.
Summative written assessment, with one essay question to be selected from a choice of two.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOL30010).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
