The course provides basic knowledge of behaviour (mechanisms, control) of farm, lab, pet, zoo & circus animals, and of interactions between behaviour, physiology, genetics/breeding, housing/nutrition and animal use. A special focus is set on the assessment of animal welfare and on legislation based on an appreciation of animal related, ethical, traditional, economical and political values.

Cooperation and Conflict: Introduction to animal behaviour from an evolutionary perspective, with emphasis on social behaviour (theroretical background, proximate mechanisms and ultimate functions). Evolution of Behaviour: How behaviour evolves: nervous systems, learning, communication, hominisation and evolutionary bases of human behaviour.