This unit aims to provide you with an advanced level of understand of animal behaviour within an evolutionary and ecological framework. There will be an emphasis on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles (e.g., the ways in which animals interact with their own and other species and the environment, mechanisms to maximise reproductive success, determinants of fitness of an individual). In lectures, these principles will be highlighted by presentation of the history and theory of behavioural ecology, recent examples and advances (primary literature and research within the School), and detailed case studies. The practical classes are designed to develop an understanding of relevant research methodology (the process of science, research design, data analysis and synthesis) via group research projects. The group projects will emphasise gaining high level expertise in experimental design and data collection in real situations (not always as easy as it may seem) framed within a theoretical framework. Scientific presentation skills are important to any budding scientist (or for that matter in most job situations); these skills will be developed through presentation of the research project to peers as a conference talk and in a written report in the form of a scientific manuscript (in the format of the journal Behavioral Ecology). The forum assessment will provide you with an opportunities to demonstrate mastery in using primary literature to critique and apply this knowledge to address novel questions in Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology.