Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - BISC 410 D100

Behavioural Ecology (3)

Class Number: 1241

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Mon, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Wed, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BISC 102 and (BISC 204 or GEOG 215 or REM 211), both with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Behavioural ecologists study the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of behaviour. This course explores theories developed to explain group-living, foraging decisions, signalling, mate choice and reproductive strategies, and provides an opportunity to develop novel hypotheses for (and design experiments to test) why animals, including humans, behave the way they do.

COURSE DETAILS:

The lecture portion of this course is about understanding why animals behave the way they do. We will consider a wide variety of behaviours (including cooperation, altruism and spite, foraging decisions, signalling, mate choice, and reproductive strategies) and explore theories that seek to understand them as the product of evolution. Students will become familiar with approaches and methods used by behavioral ecologists, and have the opportunity to develop novel hypotheses for (and design experiments to test) why animals, including humans, behave the way they do. 

The midterm and final exam (together worth 60% of the course) will assess your understanding of these concepts and skills, and your ability to apply them to new situations.  For each student, the instructor will try both of the exam-weighing options below, and use the best option to calculate your final grade.  You are allowed to use a crib sheet during each exam.

Option 1 = 25% midterm + 35% cumulative final exam.

Option 2 = 15% midterm + 45% cumulative final exam.

The tutorial portion of this offering of BISC 410 will be led by a Teaching Assistant (TA). Because Ecological Research should be done in respectful partnership with the Indigenous communities on whose Land this research takes place, it’s important for each generation of scientists to do the self-reflection and learning necessary to approach these relationships respectfully, and with awareness of one’s own positionality, gifts, and responsibilities. Each week, the TA will facilitate homework, lessons, discussion, and reflections to help students do this important self-decolonizing work, while also supporting your continuous work on a capstone project. This work will support deeper learnings and reflect on multiple ways of knowing and doing in STEM.

Grading

  • • Lecture Participation (via in-class worksheets) 15%
  • • Tutorial Participation 5% 5%
  • • Capstone project 20%
  • • Exams (Midterm + Cumulative Final) 60%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Davies, Krebs & West (2012).  An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology, 4th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell

Available electronically for free through the library. The book can be read online and chapters can be downloaded as pdfs.
ISBN: 978-1-4051-1416-5

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.