This course was taught in Spring 2007.
It will be on offer again, but possibly not until Fall 2011 or later.
If you are a student interested in the course, drop me an email, so I can judge how many people would like to take it.


Do animals forage optimally? Why do some but not others live in groups? Is the mind composed of modules for different functions? How did language evolve? This course will focus on current topics in behavioral ecology and animal cognition research, and bring together methods and concepts used in these two approaches. Lectures will alternate with discussion sections and student presentations on classic and recent studies.

The course requires no end-of-term paper etc.; the main things you will have to do are presentations in class and reading the textbooks (which are easy and enjoyable to read; and note that it is not required to read the whole book, although I recommend it).




Instructor: Anna Dornhaus
- I'm a biologist with a special interest in collective behavior and cognition (esp. 'collective intelligence'). I work with social insects, particularly bumble bees, honey bees, and ants.
check out my lab webpage, department webpage, or personal webpage
Feel free to contact me with questions about the course or if you are interested in working in my lab:
dornhausemail.arizona.edu