ETHOLOGY APPLICATA
cod. 12866

Academic year 2009/10
1° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Zoologia (BIO/05)
Field
Discipline biologiche
Type of training activity
Characterising
24 hours
of face-to-face activities
3 credits
hub:
course unit
in

Integrated course unit module: ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Learning objectives

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the field in which animal behaviour study  can be applied to a variety of human-animal relationships, farm animal, companion animal, wild animals in captivity. The focus will be on natural behaviour and behavioural needs in animal welfare

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge in animal behaviour

Course unit content

<br />Lecture 1<br /> <br />*     What do `Applied Ethology¿ mean *     Applying ethology: why? *     Human-Animal interactions since the beggining of the human kind *     Human-Animal interactions nowadays: breeding animals for food or company, for purpose of scientific research (bio-medical), keeping animal in zoo for conservation, research and education, keeping animals in circus for fun, management and conservation of wildlife. *     Solving problem posed by living with animals, public health<br />*     Improvement of animals: health, breeding, reproduction, conservation and welfare. <br /> <br />Lecture 2 - Development of Behaviour<br />*     Ontogeny<br />*     Learning <br />*     Animal training<br /> <br />Lecture 3 - Motivation<br />*     Homeostasis: feeding, drinking, body care, locomotion, rest, exploration<br />*     Decision making<br />*     Conflict<br />*     Frustration<br />*     Control<br />*     Predictability<br />*     Preference test<br />*     Operant conditioning<br />*     Contrafreeloading<br /> <br />Lecture 4 - Stress<br />*     Definition<br />*     Biological and physiological basis<br />*     Behavioural Consequences<br />*     Abnormal behaviour <br />*     Stereotypies<br />*     Self- and re-directed abnormal behaviours <br />*     Failure to function<br /> <br />Lecture 5 - Evolution of Behaviour<br />*     Genes <br />*     Adaptiveness of behaviour<br />*     Natural and artificial selection<br />*     Domestication <br /> <br />Lecture 6 - Animal Welfare: general concepts<br />*     Definition<br />*     Ethical aspect of AW <br />*     Improvement of AW <br /> <br />Lecture 7 - Animal Welfare: legislation<br />*     European Legislation<br />*     Italian Legislation<br /> <br />Lecture 8 - Companion Animal Behaviour & Welfare<br />*     Dogs <br /> <br />Lecture 9 - Companion Animal Behaviour & Welfare<br />*     Cats <br /> <br />Lecture 10 - Farm Animal Behaviour & Welfare<br />*     Pigs <br /> <br />Lecture 11 - Farm Animal Behaviour & Welfare<br />*     Dairy cattle <br /> <br />Lecture 12 - Zoos<br />*     The role of zoos in the 21st century<br />*     The target of protection and conservation<br />*     Captive breeding and welfare<br />*     The ethics of wildlife management<br />*     The target of education<br />*     The future of zoos<br /> <br />Lecture 13 -Wildlife Management<br />*     Protection of the environment<br />*     Creation of wildlife sanctuary<br />*     Re-introduction of wild species<br />*     Economic impact of wild animals on human activity<br />*     Solving the problem<br /> 

Full programme

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Bibliography

<br />Houpt ¿Il comportamento degli animali domestici¿ EMSI 2000<br />Webster ¿ Il benessere animale¿ Edagricole 1999<br />Appleby & Hughes ¿Animal Welfare¿ CABI Publishing 1999<br />Serpell ¿The domestic dog¿ Cambridge 1995<br />Serpell ¿In the company of animals¿ Blackwell 1986<br />Turner & Bateson ¿ The domestic cat¿ Cambridge 1998<br />Fraser & Broom ¿ Farm animal behaviour and welfare¿ CABI Publishing<br /> <br />Lectures content is available in in power point at:<br />http://scienzebiologiche.unipr.it

Teaching methods

<br />Oral lectures will be integrated with visit to intensive and extensive breeding farm, zoo and research center<br />Oral examination will be carried out.

Assessment methods and criteria

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Other information

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