This is an Honours Pathway Course that is normally taken at the same time as BIOL3131, and deals with carrying out research on the behavioural ecology of free-living animals. Students will work in tutorial groups to develop hypotheses about behaviour that will be tested during a week-long field trip. Results are then presented in a poster at the course's conference; and in a report in the form of a scientific paper. The course emphasises the design and effective reporting of scientific research, and will expose students to all of the stages of carrying out and reporting original research. Research topics have included: anti-predator behaviour in kangaroos, parrots and emus; foraging behaviour of antlions and bees; habitat segregation in birds; sex differences in plumage and vigilance; social structure of fairy-wrens; social foraging in seagulls; sex differences in foraging in oystercatchers; song and alarm calls in birds; schooling behaviour of fish.

A quota may be placed on enrolments for this course.

Participation in the group’s research effort (10%), a poster (25%), an introduction to a research problem (15%), and research paper on that problem (50%).

BIOL3131 must be taken concurrently.