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Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 1

BIOLOGY435ANIMALCOMMUNICATION

Fall,2019

WelcometoAnimalCommunication!Theworldisfullofsights,sounds,andsmells—manyofwhichareproducedbyanimals.Butwhatdotheseconspicuoussignalsmean?Inthiscourse,wewillprovideageneraloverviewofthehow,when,where,andwhyofanimalsignalsaswesearchforgeneralprinciplesunderlyingthebiologyofanimalcommunication.Thecoursebeginswithanexaminationofthemechanismsbywhichanimalsproduceandperceivesignalsandcoversallofthebasicmodalities(sight,sound,touch,andsmell).Thesecondpartofthecoursethenexamines theevolutionofdifferent typesof signalsandhow theyareused to communicate information.Theapproachwewilltakeinthiscoursewillbebroad,consideringtheevolutionofanimalcommunicationbydrawingfromabroadrangeofdisciplinesincludingphysics,chemistry,physiology,ecology,psychology,economics,music,language,andofcourseanimalbehavior.Investigativelaboratoryandfieldexperiencesareintegratedintothecoursetoprovidepracticalhands-onexperiencesstudyinganimalcommunication.

Instructor

Professor: Dr.ChristopherTempleton Office: Strain203b Phone: 503-352-3149(x3149ifyou’reoncampus) OfficeHours:Monday10-11amandThursday1-2pm

*ifthesetimesdonotworkforyou,scheduleanothertimewithmeviaemail*E-mail: templeton@pacificu.eduCourseLocation

Coursename:Biology435Classtimes: Lecture: MWF1pm-2:05pm

Lab: Th8:00-11:00amLectureLocation: Price202LabLocation: Strain220

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 2

LearningOutcomes Aftercompletingthiscourse,studentswillbeableto:

• Integrateavarietyofbiologicalandinterdisciplinaryconceptstoexplainhowandwhyanimalscommunicate

• Accuratelyobserveanddescribeavarietyofsignalmodalities• Applyknowledgeofanimalsignalingtopredicthowanthropogenicchangeswillimpactanimals

andtheirpopulations• Demonstrateappropriatetechniquesforconductingresearchonanimalcommunication• Criticallyevaluateprimaryresearchpapersandresearchproposals• Identifynovelresearchquestions,design,andconductresearchprojectsusingdetailedsignal

analysis,behavioralobservations,orcontrolledexperiments• Effectivelycommunicateresearchfindingsinbothoralandwrittenformat

AnimalCommunicationalsoprovidesthefollowinglearningoutcomesfortheBiologymajor:

• Studentswilldemonstratedeepunderstandingoffivecoreconceptsinbiology:evolution;pathwaysandtransformationsofenergyandmatter;informationflow,exchange,andstorage;structureandfunction;andbiologicalsystems.

• Studentswillusethestandardskillsandmethodologiesofbiologytoanswerscientificquestions.• Studentswillapplythescientificmethod,reasoningandappropriatemathematicstodescribe,

explainandunderstandbiologicalsystems.• Studentswilluseinterdisciplinaryapproaches(applyingchemistry,physics,andmathematicsto

biology)toworkonbiologicalproblems.• Studentseffectivelywillread,write,speakandunderstandscientificmaterial.• Studentswillcollaborateandcommunicatewithinbiologyandacrossdisciplines.• Studentswillapplysciencetoissuesfacingoursociety

Inaddition,thiscoursefulfillstheNaturalSciencesCorerequirement.StudentscompletingtheNaturalSciencesCorerequirementwill:

• usescientificmethodsandreasoningwithinthecontextofthenaturalsciences• recognizethedistinctivenatureandlimitsofscientificknowledge:thatitisanevolvingmodelof

thenaturalworld,discoveredandverifiedthroughexperimentationandobservationCourseCatalogDescriptionAninvestigationintothebiologyunderlyingdifferentmodesofanimalcommunication,includingvisual,acoustic,chemical,andtactilesignalingbehavior.Thecoursewillfocusontheevolutionaryandecologicalsignificanceofanimalsignalsanddiscusshowcommunicationiscontrolledbydifferentmechanisms(endocrinology,genetics,neuroscience)andhowthesebehaviorsareimpactedbyanthropogenicinteractions.

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 3

CourseMaterials(Optional)PrinciplesofAnimalCommunicationbyBradbury&Vehrencamp2011(2ndedition).Thisistheonlytextbookinprintthatdealswithanimalcommunication.Itcoversmanyofthetopicswewilllearnaboutinclassandisdenselypackedwithinformation.Iwillreferyoutorelevantpassagestoreinforcelecturecontentorprovidemoreindepthtreatmentoftopicsthatinterestyou.Thisbookisencyclopedicbutalsochallenging:Irecommendregularlyreadingsmallamountsinsteadoftryingtodigestentirechaptersinasinglesitting.Iwillplaceacopyofthisbookonreserveinthelibraryforshort-termcheckout.(Recommended)AShortGuidetoWritingAboutBiologybyJanPechenik.Thisisaveryusefullittlebookthatdealswithallaspectsofscientificwritingandpresentation.Ihighlyrecommendyoupurchasethisbook—itwillbeausefulreferencethroughoutthisandotherupper-levelBiologycourses,andforyourcapstonepaperandpresentation.Feelfreetobuyanotherrecenteditionifyoucansavesomemoneythatway,thoughIwillonlyprovidepagenumbersfromthemostrecenteditionforreadings.(Required)ReadingsfromthePrimaryLiterature:Classicandrecentpublicationsselectedbystudentsandtheinstructorwillbeprovidedasthemainreadingthroughoutthecourse.Inaddition,studentswilldelvedeeplyintorecentliteraturerelatedtothecourseresearchproject.GeneralCourseExpectationsAttendanceResearchhasshownthatstudentslearnbestwhentheyareactiveparticipantsintheclass.Iexpectthatstudentsenrolledinthiscourseareadultswhotakeresponsibilityfortheirowneducation.Iwillnottakeattendanceinclass,butclassattendanceandparticipationarestronglyrecommendedandcounttowardsyouroverallgrade.Lectureandlabarekeylearningopportunitiesandwewillhavegradedassignmentsperiodicallyinclasssomissingeithercouldnegativelyimpactbothyourlearningopportunitiesandyourgradeinthecourse.Ifyouknowyouwillmissclass(e.g.foranapproveduniversityevent),pleaseletmeknowaheadoftimeandIwilldomybesttohelpyou.Notethatvacations,etc.arenotconsideredapprovedevents.Ifyoumissclass,pleasefirsttalktoyourfellowstudentsandtryandgetcopiesofnotesorhandouts.Then,ifyoustillhavequestionsafterspeakingwithstudentsandstudyingtheirnotes,pleasecometalktomeforfurtherclarification.ExpectationsduringclassPleasecomepreparedandarriveontime.Beingpreparedmeanscompletingassignedreadingsorassignments,beingfocusedandreadytoengageinclass,andalsodressingappropriatelyforlab(wewilloftenbeoutside,regardlessoftheweather!).Completereadingsandassignmentsbythespecifieddateandtime.Avoiddistractions,inappropriatecellphoneuseisverydistractingforyou,yourpeers,andyourinstructorandshouldnottakeplaceduringclass.Last,youareexpectedtotreattheinstructorandeachotherfairlyandwithrespect.

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 4

ExpectationsoutsideofclassIwillworkhardtofacilitateyourlearning,butonlyyoucanlearnthematerialthroughfocusedtimeandeffortwithinandoutsidetheclassroom.Asareminder,Pacificguidelinesstatethatstudentsshouldputin2-3hoursoutsideofclassforeverycredit.Thismeansthatyoushouldexpecttoworkforatleast8-12hoursperweekoutsideofclasstimetopassthecourse!ExpectationsofyourProfessor(me)Youcanalsoexpectmetobefairandhonestwithyou,returnmaterialsinareasonabletimeframe,andbeavailabletoyououtsideofclass.OfficehoursaredesignatedtimesthatIwillbeavailableforstudentsfromthisclassbutIrealizethatitisimpossibletoselecttimesthatwillworkwitheveryone’sbusyschedules.Ifthosetimesdonotworkforyou,pleasecontactmeandwecansetanothertimetomeet(I’mveryhappytodothis!)TechnologyPoliciesEmail: I will use your official Pacific University e-mail address to send out occasional but importantinformation.Plantocheckthisaccountregularly,ortoforwardmessagestoanaccountyouuse.Email isalso typically the best way to get in touch with me outside of class hours. When you send an email,remember to only use your pacific.edu account and that professors expect email to be conducted as aformal correspondence, not like a text message. When you send me an email, please include relevantinformationinthesubject line(e.g."Biol435EcholocationQuestion"),apropersalutation(e.g.“helloProfTempleton,”),andmakesuretosignyourownname.FollowingthisframeworkwillhelpensurethatIwillnotoverlookyouremailbyaccident. Iwilldomybest to tryandreply toyouremail ina timelymanner(usuallywithin 24hours), however I do not typically checkmy email in the evenings (after 5pm) or onweekends,somakesureyouarepatientorplanaheadifyouhavequestions.Needmoreguidanceonemailetiquette?SeetheMoodlepageforahelpfullinkonhowtosendemailtoyourprofessors.Moodle:ThereisaclassMoodlepagethatIwillalsousetopostdailylearningobjectivesandlectureslides,readings,anddetailsaboutassignments,exams,andotherimportantinformation–youshouldvisitMoodleregularly.Box/GoogleDrive:Wewillusecloudbasedfilestoragesystemsforsharinginformationandarchivingdata,especiallyrelatedtothelabcomponentofthiscourse.It isexpectedthateachstudentuploadeddataandrecordsinatimelyfashion.Iwillsendyouinvitationstoeachresourcelaterintheclass.Cellphones:Mobiledeviceshavebecomeexceedinglypowerfultoolsandonrareoccasions,Imightsuggestthatyouusetheminclasstoaugmentourlearning.However,atallothertimes,Iexpectthatyourphoneissilencedandcompletelyputaway(inabagunderyourdesk)sothatyouwillnotbetemptedtocheckit.Asstatedabove, inappropriatecellphoneusecanbeextremelydistractingand impactnot justyoubutalsoyourpeersandprofessor,sopleasehaverespectforallofusandkeepyourphoneputaway.Ifyouhaveagoodreasontouseyourcellphone–e.g.afamilyemergencyinprogress–pleaseletmeknowbeforeclassstarts.UnauthorizedRecordings.Studentsareprohibitedfrommakingaudioand/orvisualrecordingsoflecturesorpresentationswithoutpriorconsentoftheinstructororpresenter.

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 5

CourseAssessmentIwillassessyourlearningbasedonacombinationofexams,assignments,laboratoryassignments,andindependentprojects,withtherelativepercentagesoutlinedbelow:1)Exams 30%

Therewillbetwounitexamsduringthesemesterandafinalexam.Examswillconsistofquestionsinavarietyofformats,includingmultiplechoice,shortanswer,andshortessays.Eachexamwillfocusonnewmaterialbutassumeknowledgetestedonpriorunits.

2)LaboratoryAssignments 20%Youwillpreparealabwrite-upand/orcompleteshortpre-labassignmentsformanylabactivities.Youwillreceivespecificdetailsonthecontentofeachlabwrite-upandpre-labexerciseforeachlab.

3)SeminarPresentations 10%Studentswillworkinpairsorindependentlytolead1-2seminar-stylediscussionsofresearcharticlesfromtheprimaryliterature.Eachteamwillchoosearecentpaper,conductappropriatebackgroundresearchinthattopic(i.e.readotherrelatedpapers),giveashortpresentationonthepaper,andfacilitateclassdiscussion.Moredetailsandsign-upsheetswillbeforthcoming.

4)VideoProduction 15%

Studentswillworkinsmallgroupstoproduceashort(3-5min)videodocumentingsomeaspectofanimalcommunication.Thegoalistoprovidebiologicallyaccuratevideosthatshowcasegeneralconceptsorexcitingnewdiscoveriesinanimalcommunicationinanentertainingway.ThosegroupsproducingworkofahighstandardwillhavetheopportunitytohavetheirvideosincludedinanationalrepositoryandusedaspartofaformalscientificoutreachprograminprimaryschoolsacrosstheUS.Moredetailsandtechnicalguidancewillbeforthcoming.

5)ClassResearchProject 20%Towardstheendofthecourse,wewillapplywhatwehavelearnedtodesignanexperimentthataddstothecurrentstateofknowledgeaboutanimalcommunication.Asaclass,wewillidentifyaninterestingresearchquestion,designanexperimentorsetofobservationstoaddressthisquestion,collectdata,analyzetheresults,andinterpretthemintegratinginformationfromthecourseandtheprimaryliterature.

5)Classparticipationandengagement 5%Lecturesandlabsaredesignedforstudentstoengagewiththematerialandtakeanactiveroleintheclassroom.Thesuccessoftheclassdependsonstudentsbeingactiveparticipantsandyourparticipationandattitudeduringtheclassimpactyourgrade.

Yourfinallettergradewillassignedasfollows:

A:>90%B:80%-89%C:70%-79%D:60%-69%F:<59%

Plusandminusgradeswillbeassignedasfollows:percentagesendingwith7-9willbegivenaplus(e.g.,87–89%=B+);percentagesendingwith0-2willbegivenaminus(e.g.,80–82%=B-).Thereisnoextracredit.Gradesarenotcurved,meaningthateverystudentcanachieveanA;youarenotcompetingwithotherstudentsinthecourse,soworktogetherinanhonestandethicalfashion.

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 6

AcademicIntegrityIexpectstudentstoknowandadheretotheuniversity’s“CodeofAcademicConduct”policies;pleasecarefullyreadthemintheCollegeofArtsandSciencescatalog.Thebottomline:youmustdoyourownworkonallexamsandclassassignmentsincludinglabreportsandpre-labassignments.Academichonestydoesnotprecludediscussingideaswithotherstudents,workingtogetheronhomework,studyingtogetherforexams,orprovidingfeedbackonlabwrite-upsaslongasalltextisinyourownwords.Inaddition,everyoneisexpectedtocontributeequallytogroupwork(seminars,labreports,researchprojects)PacificUniversityhasnotoleranceforacademicmisconduct/cheating.ItisuniversitypolicythatallactsofmisconductanddishonestybereportedtotheAssociateDeanforStudentAcademicAffairs.Sanctionsthatmaybeimposedforsuchmisconductrangefroman“F”fortheassignment,an“F”forthecourse,andsuspensionordismissalfromtheuniversity.Formsofacademicmisconductincludebutarenotlimitedtoplagiarism,fabrication,cheating,tamperingwithgrades,forgingsignatures,andusingelectronicinformationresourcesinviolationofacceptableusepolicies.Pleasetalktomebeforeyouturninassignmentsifyouhaveaquestionaboutwhatconstitutesdishonesty.Asareminder,herearesomeexamplesofacademicdishonestyandplagiarism:

• Copyingtheworkofanotherstudentonanexamorawrittenassignment,includinglabs• Havingnotesorcribsheetsaccessibleduringexamsorquizzes,evenifyoudon’tusethem• Cuttingandpastingphrasesorsentencesfromtextbooks,articles,orwebsites• Re-usinganassignmentfromanotherclass• Insufficientattributionforideasandinformationfrompublishedresources

CollegeResourcesTherearemanyfreeservicesavailableatPacifictohelpyousucceedinyourcourses.Iencourageyoutotakeadvantageofthem!Someoftheseservicesarelistedbelow.TutoringServices.CLASS(CenterforLearningandStudentSuccess)islocatedonthe2nd-flooroftheTranLibrary.Thecenterfocusesondeliveringone-on-oneandgrouptutoringservicesforforeignlanguages,mathandsciencecourses,andwritingskillsinallsubjects.Studentsshouldconsultwiththecenter’sdirectorandlookforcampusadvertisementsregardingtutoringavailableforothersubjects.Dayandeveninghours.OfficeofAccessibilityandAccommodationServices(OAA).SupportservicesandreasonableaccommodationsareavailabletostudentscoveredundertheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.Ifyouhaveadocumenteddisabilityandrequireaccommodationsinthiscourse,youmustcontacttheOfficeofAccessibilityandAccommodationServices(OAA)at503-352-2171(oaa.contact@pacificu.edu).Staffmemberswillmeetwithyou,reviewthedocumentationofyourdisability,anddiscusstheservicesPacificprovidesandanyspecificaccommodationsyourequireforcertaincourses.Itisextremelyimportantthatyoubeginthisprocessatthebeginningofthesemesterorearlier.StudentCounselingCenter.Thecounselingcenteroffersindividualcounseling,crisisservices,referrals,andworkshops.Theyalsohaveinformationon-lineorintheirofficeaboutissuessuchasstressmanagementandsleep.503-352-2191,Mon-Fri9a.m.–5p.m.,http://www.pacificu.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 7

ClassSchedule(subjecttochange)MoredetailedweeklyschedulesandlearningobjectiveswillbeprovidedinclassoronMoodle.

UnitI:SignalModalities.Howisinformationtransferredbetweenanimals?

Week Dates Lecturetopics LabactivitiesWeek1 26-30Aug AcousticSignals FieldTriptoJacksonBottom:

WildlifeSoundRecordingWeek2 2-6Sept AcousticSignals Lab:AudioAnalysisTutorial

Week3 9-13Sept VisualSignals EVENINGFieldTriptoFernhill:

BatEcholocationWeek4 16-20Sept OlfactorySignals FieldTriptoFernhill:

BirdSongRecordingWeek5 23-27Sept TactileandElectricalSignals Lab:SongRepertoireAnalysis

EXAMI:Friday27September

UnitII:SignalEvolutionandFunctions.Whatinformationdosignalscontainandwhousesthisinformation?

Week6 30Sept-4Oct EvolutionofSignals Lab/Campus:AnthropogenicNoise

Week7 9-13Oct InformationinSignals Lab:Spectrometry/OpticalIllusions

Week8 14-18Oct SignalHonestyandDeception Library:VideoCreationWorkshop

Week9 21-25Oct CourtshipandMateAttraction Lab:ResearchProjectDesign

Week10 28Oct-1Nov ConflictandSocialSignals ResearchProjects

Week11 4-8Nov FoodandPredatorSignals ResearchProjects

Week12 11-15Nov LanguageandVocalLearning FieldTriptoOregonNationalPrimateCenter:Primates

EXAMII:Monday18November

UnitIII:Coursesynthesis.Videopresentations,primaryliteraturediscussions,andcoursewrapup.

Week13 18-22Nov FilmFestival&Discussion Lab:HumanPheromones

Week14 25-29Nov Video&ThanksgivingBreak

Week15 2Dec CourseSynthesis

FINALEXAM:Tuesday6December,8:30-11am

Bio 435 Fall 2019 Syllabus, p. 8

OtherImportantDatesforyourCalendar• Monday,September9:Lastdaytodropaclasswithnorecord.• Friday,November1:Lastdaytowithdrawfromcourses.• Monday,September2:LaborDay!Noclass• Friday,October4:Fallbreak!Noclass• Friday,November8:MurdockResearchConference!Noclass• Wednesday-Friday,November27-29:Thanksgiving!Noclass