9.20 Animal Behavior, Fall 2001
Highlights of this Course
This animal behavior class surveys behaviors exhibited by a broad range of animals in different settings. The
lecture outlines provide a detailed overview of the topics covered in each class. The
study materials focus on behavioral organization within a specific group of animals.
Course Description
This course will sample the broad diversity of animal behavior and the behavioral adaptation of animals to the environments in which they live. This will include discussion of both field observations and controlled laboratory experiments. Particular emphasis will be placed on the comparison of behavior within an evolutionary framework, animal cognition, and on the genetic, neural, and hormonal mechanisms underlying behavior.