Information Package / Course Catalogue
Biology of Behavior
Course Code: BYL441
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

This course aims to teach causes of animal behaviors, organization and control mechanisms, types of behavior and their evolution.

Course Content

Introduction to biology of behavior, causes and organization of behavior, physiology of behavior, behavior determinants, types of behavior, learning and learning types, informatics in animals, social behavior and sociobiology, behavior in invertebrate and vertebrate animals, the evolution of behavior.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Nazan ÜZÜM
Learning Outcomes
1.Explains the emergence and historical development of Behavioral Biology.
2.Comments the causes of animal behavior and the differences between animal behavior and human behavior.
3.Explains how behavior is organized and the roles of the senses, nervous system, hormones and stimuli in this organization.
4.Explains the formation mechanisms of reflexes in animals.
5.Lists the adaptive behaviors seen in animals.
6.Compares innate behaviors with acquired behaviors.
7.Comments learning and its types in animals.
8.Defines informatics and compares the cognitive mechanisms used by animals in their movements.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Hayvan Davranışları- Ayla ÖBER ISBN: 9786053950042
2.Animal Behaviour – John ALCOCK ISBN: 0878930051
3.Biyoloji –Davranış Biyolojisi - Neil CAMPBELL, Jane REECE ISBN:0805366245 - Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology – Tim CARO ISBN: 0195104897
4.Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach – J.R. KREBS and N. B. DAVIES ISBN: 0632002856
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to behavioral biology, development of behavioral biology
Week 2 - Theoretical
Causes of behavior, Comparison of human and animal behavior, Stimulus-response theory
Week 3 - Theoretical
Instinctive behavior, Behavior patterns, Innate adaptation mechanism
Week 4 - Theoretical
Physiology of behavior: sense of sight
Week 5 - Theoretical
Physiology of behavior: sense of hearing and vocalization
Week 6 - Theoretical
Physiology of behavior: sense of smell, taste and touch
Week 7 - Theoretical
Balance organs, Receptors, Reflexes
Week 8 - Theoretical
Behavior determinants: Hormones and behavior, Endocrine cycle, Behavior circle (Midterm Exam)
Week 9 - Theoretical
Classification of behavior, Types of behavior: Feeding behavior
Week 10 - Theoretical
Types of behavior: Shelter-seeking behavior, Agonistic behavior, Territoriums and their classification
Week 11 - Theoretical
Types of behavior: Courtship and Reproductive behavior, Mating systems
Week 12 - Theoretical
Types of behavior: Responsibility behavior, Waste removal behavior, Mimic behavior, Social behavior
Week 13 - Theoretical
Learning and learning types
Week 14 - Theoretical
Informatics and its mechanisms in animals
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140228
Reading140228
Individual Work140114
Midterm Examination111112
Final Examination117118
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)100
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
PÇ-15
OÇ-1
4
2
2
2
3
OÇ-2
4
2
3
3
1
2
OÇ-3
4
3
2
4
3
OÇ-4
4
2
5
3
2
OÇ-5
5
3
4
3
4
1
1
OÇ-6
5
3
3
2
4
1
OÇ-7
4
4
3
4
4
2
OÇ-8
5
4
3
4
4
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026