Introduction to Animal Behaviour
Discover the fascinating world of wild animal behavior through scientific study. Learn how animals communicate, survive, and thrive in their environments.
Discover the fascinating world of wild animal behavior through scientific study. Learn how animals communicate, survive, and thrive in their environments.
This comprehensive course explores the complexities of wild animal behavior and scientific methods used to study it. Led by top researchers from Wageningen University, including Prof. Marc Naguib and Drs. James Savage and Lysanne Snijders, students learn about animal learning, communication, survival strategies, reproduction, and social dynamics. The course covers key concepts in behavioral ecology, from how animals find food and avoid predators to mate selection and offspring rearing. Through a combination of scientific theory and real-world examples, participants gain insights into the fascinating ways animals adapt to meet their daily challenges.
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What you'll learn
Understand key concepts and principles of animal behavior science
Explore how animals learn and adapt to their environment
Analyze different forms of animal communication
Examine strategies for finding food and avoiding predators
Understand mating systems and parental care in animals
Investigate the dynamics of group living in animal societies
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
PreRecorded video
Graded assignments, Exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
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There are 6 modules in this course
This engaging course provides a comprehensive introduction to animal behavior science. Students explore how animals learn, communicate, find food, avoid predators, choose mates, and rear offspring. The curriculum covers essential concepts in behavioral ecology, including evolution, natural selection, and the scientific method. Through expert instruction and real-world examples, participants learn about the complexities of animal social systems and how scientific hypotheses about behavior are developed and tested.
The Science of Animal Behaviour
Module 1
Learning, Cognition and Development
Module 2
Communication
Module 3
Finding Food and Avoiding Predators
Module 4
Mating Systems and Parental Care
Module 5
Living in Groups
Module 6
Fee Structure
Instructors
4 Courses
Pioneering Behavioral Ecologist Bridging Animal Behavior and Conservation Science
Dr. Lysanne Snijders serves as an Assistant Professor at the Behavioural Ecology Group of Wageningen University & Research, where she combines her passion for animal behavior with wildlife conservation efforts. After completing her Biology degree at Utrecht University and Master's at Wageningen University, she earned her PhD cum laude in 2016, focusing on personality in social networks of great tits. Her academic journey includes significant research positions at prestigious institutions, including postdoctoral work at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and the Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. Her research primarily investigates social behavior and personality in various species, from Trinidadian guppies to noctule bats, with particular emphasis on how individuals differ in behavior and what consequences this has for group dynamics. As an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoc Fellow and current NWO-Veni Fellow, she has made substantial contributions to understanding animal social networks, information transfer, and conservation behavior. Beyond her research, she actively engages in science communication through various platforms, including serving as a lecturer for the MOOC "Introduction to Animal Behaviour" on EdX, and advocates for women in science, emphasizing that scientific careers are accessible to all genders. Her work bridges the gap between behavioral ecology and wildlife conservation, focusing on how understanding animal behavior can contribute to more effective conservation strategies and the reduction of human-wildlife conflicts.
4 Courses
Distinguished Leader in Animal Behavior and Communication Research
Dr. Marc Naguib serves as Professor and Chair of the Behavioural Ecology Group at Wageningen University & Research since 2011, where he has established himself as a prominent researcher in animal behavior and communication. After completing his PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he built an impressive career through positions at the Freie Universität Berlin, University of Bielefeld, and as a senior researcher at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. His research primarily focuses on vocal communication and social organization in animals, with particular expertise in songbird behavior as model systems. He investigates how animals learn, communicate, and organize their social lives, contributing significantly to our understanding of behavioral mechanisms, development, and function in wildlife. As current president of the Netherlands Society for Behavioural Biology, he continues to shape the field through his leadership and research contributions. His teaching portfolio includes the popular MOOC "Introduction to Animal Behaviour," where he shares his fascination with bird behavior and their remarkable behavioral repertoire. His work spans multiple aspects of behavioral ecology, including animal cognition, movement patterns, and the complexities of social networks, making him a leading figure in understanding how animals adapt and respond to their environment through behavior.
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