Full time faculty: Michael Noonan (Program Coordinator); Susan W. Margulis, Sara Morris, Kathryn Costanzo; Adjunct Faculty: Donna M. Fernandes, Lisa Leuchner.
The Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation major (ABEC) offers broad training on topics related to the nature of animals, their behavioral ecology, and mankind’s relationship to them. It is designed for students who wish to engage in a rigorous course of study in behavioral biology, while critically examining issues pertaining to animal welfare and wildlife conservation. A central theme underlying this program is the use of scientific knowledge about animal behavior for the benefit of the other species with which we share the planet.
This background serves as solid preparation for:
- Graduate studies in animal behavior and conservation biology
- Zoo based employment
- Animal training
- University animal welfare compliance
- Companion animal evaluation and welfare
- Animal advocacy (wildlife conservation)
Student Learning Goals
The Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation major will demonstrate:
Goal 1: Mastery of the facts and theoretical underpinnings of animal behavior and conservation biology.Animal Behavior, Ecology and Conservation Curriculum
Goal 2: Comprehension of neuroscience’s role in understanding an animal’s capacity for pain and suffering.
Goal 3: An ability to evaluate an individual animal’s welfare.
Goal 4: An understanding of the changing status of animals in human society.
Goal 5: An understanding of the role of animal behavior in wildlife conservation.
1. Core Curriculum Requirements:
See pages 38-40 of this catalog or go to /academics/core.asp for the Core Curriculum requirements. All students complete these requirements as part of their overall Canisius
education
2 . Major Course Requirements: 17 courses
| A: Support Courses (5 courses): | |||
| BIO 101 Introduction to Cellular Biology | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 102 Organismal Biology | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 201 Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology | 4 credits | ||
| PSY 101 Introductory Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| MAT 141 Inferential Statistics (or PSY201 Behavioral Statistics) |
3 credits | ||
| B: Major Courses (4 courses): | |||
| ABEC 215 Comparative Animal Behavior | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 322 Conservation Biology | 3 credits | ||
| PHI 245 Animal Ethics | 3 credits | ||
| RST 321 Religious Perspectives on Animals | 3 credits | ||
| C: Major Electives (any 8 courses from the following list) | |||
| ABEC 220 Animal Learning with lab | 4 credits | ||
| ABEC 251 Zoo Animal Management | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 250 Zoo Animal Husbandry | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 318 Applied Animal Behavior | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 319 Anthrozoology | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 350 Zoo Biology | 4 credits | ||
| ABEC 360 Research Methods with Lab | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 137 Special Topics in Natural History 1 | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 138 Special Topics in Natural History 2 | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 312 Primatology | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 366 Ornithology (or BIO166 Biology of Birds) | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 316 Social Organization of Mammals | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 317 Sex, Evolution and Behavior | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 320 Field Ecology with lab | 4 credits | ||
| BIO 325 Reproductive Biopsychology | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 343 Entomology | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 355 Behavioral Neuroscience | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 365 Vertebrate Biology | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 370 Ecology | 3 credits | ||
| BIO 371 Behavioral Ecology | 3 credits | ||
| PHI 348 Environmental Ethics | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 490 Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 495 Research Seminar | 3 credits | ||
| ABEC 498 Internship | 3 credits | ||
3. Free electives:
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours.
Minors
The ABEC program offers three minors for students who wish to concentrate in specific areas:
The Anthrozoology Minor (six courses)
The Anthrozoology minor is designed for students who want to concentrate on mankind’s relationships with other animal species. This minor is open to any student from any major.
One required course:
ABEC 319 AnthrozoologyPlus any five of the following:
ABEC 318 Applied Animal BehaviorThe courses may be taken independently of the others and in any order. Interested students usually begin with the course that best fits their schedule. Most of the courses are offered every other year, so interested students should plan accordingly.
BIO 137 Special Topics in Natural History 1
BIO 320 Conservation Biology
BIO 350 Zoo Biology
PHI 245 Animal Ethics
RST 321 Religious Perspectives on Animals
PHI 348 Environmental Ethics
ABEC 490 Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation
ABEC 498 Internship
ABEC 499 Research Seminar (Anthrozoology Project)
The Animal Behavior Minor (six courses)
The Animal Behavior minor is designed for students who want to concentrate on animal behavior as a topic of study. This minor is open to any student from any major other than ABEC.
One required course:
ABEC 215 Comparative Animal BehaviorPlus any five of the following:
ABEC 220 Animal Learning
ABEC 318 Applied Animal Behavior
ABEC 360 Research Methods with Lab
BIO 166 Biology of Birds (or BIO 366 Ornithology)
BIO 312 Primatology
BIO 316 Social Organization of Mammals
BIO 317 Sex, Evolution & Behavior
BIO 325 Reproductive Biopsychology
BIO 355 Behavioral Neuroscience
BIO 365 Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 371 Behavioral Ecology
ABEC 498 Internship
ABEC 499 Research Seminar (Animal Behavior Project)
The Zoo Biology Minor (six courses)
The Zoo Biology minor is designed for students who want training relevant to careers associated with captive exotic animals. This minor is open to any student from any major.
One required course:
BIO 350 Zoo BiologyPlus any five of the following:
ABEC 250 Zoo Animal Husbandry
ABEC 251 Zoo Animal Management
ABEC 318 Applied Animal Behavior
ABEC 360 Research Methods with Lab
BIO 110 Zoo Nutrition
BIO 312 Primatology
BIO 316 Social Organization of Mammals
BIO 325 Reproductive Biopsychology
ABEC 495 Research Seminar (Zoo-based Project)
ABEC 498z Internship (Zoo based)
ABEC 498a Internship (Aquarium based)
The courses may be taken independently of the others and in any order. Interested students usually begin with the course that best fits their schedule. Most of the courses are offered every other year, so interested students should plan accordingly.
COURSES: 2009-2011
BIO 101 Introduction to Cellular/Subcellular Biology 4 credits
Introduction to principles governing biological processes at the cellular/molecular level with emphasis on the role of experimentation in the scientific process. (Lab required)
BIO 102 Organismal Biology 4 credits
Introduction to principles governing biological processes at the organismal level in plants and animals. Function of organisms is stressed. (Lab required)
BIO 201 Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology 4 credits
Intra- and inter-specific interactions between organisms, interactions between organisms and their environment, and mechanisms of evolutionary change and speciation. (Lab required)
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 3 credits
The study of behavior from a psychological perspective. Topics include motivation and emotion, thinking and language, learning, memory and the physiological bases of behavior.
MAT 141 Inferential Statistics (or PSY201 Behavioral Statistics) 3 credits
Descriptive statistics, probability, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing and inferential statistics.
ABEC 215 Comparative Animal Behavior 3 credits
Behavior across a wide range of species. Similarities and contrasts allow deductions regarding mechanisms and evolution. (Lab required)
BIO 322 Conservation Biology 3 credits
Study of the plight of endangered species, the biological consequences of fragmented populations, and scientific bases of habitat/species restoration.
PHI 245 Animal Ethics 3 credits
The philosophical principals underlying concerns for animal welfare/animal rights. Application to real-world examples is stressed.
RST 321 Religious Perspectives on Animals 3 credits
Comparative survey of mankind’s religious perspectives on other species.
ABEC 220 Animal Learning with lab 4 credits
Animal learning and memory research with emphasis on practical animal training. (Lab required)
ABEC 250 Zoo Animal Husbandry 3 credits
Modern practices in the management of exotic species in captivity.
ABEC 251 Zoo Animal Management 3 credits
Principles and practices of zoo exhibitry, management, and conservation.
ABEC 318 Applied Animal Behavior 3 credits
Application of scientific knowledge about animal behavior in problem solving related to human management of companion animals and zoo animals. Application to veterinary and conservation related conditions included.
ABEC 319 Anthrozoology 3 credits
The scientific study of mankind’s relationship with other species. Themes include companion animals, animal welfare and wildlife conservation.
ABEC 350 Zoo Biology 4 credits
The roles of zoos in conservation, education, and research. Environmental, genetic, nutritional and behavioral factors in the management of captive animal populations and species survival plans.
BIO 137 Special Topics in Natural History 1 3 credits
Ecological and evolutionary concepts are explored using specific examples from a particular ecosystem, specifically by focusing on the organisms of an ecosystem and their interactions with each other and their environment.
BIO 138 Special Topics in Natural History 2 3 credits
Travel to field site to study the natural history of that area. Ecology and evolution will be studied in the field by collecting observations, and developing and testing ecological hypotheses.
BIO 366 Ornithology (or BIO166 Biology of Birds) 4 credits
Phylogenetic relationships, ecology, natural history and behavior of birds. World-wide diversity and local species. Field techniques. (lab required)
BIO 316 Social Organization of Mammals 4 credits
Behavior and social structure of rodents, felines, canines, cetaceans, elephants, monkeys, apes and humans. (lab required)
BIO 317 Sex, Evolution and Behavior 3 credits
Reproductive behavior of diverse animal species from an evolutionary perspective. Focus is on how evolutionary accounts explain male-female differences in life style and behavior.
BIO 320 Field Ecology with lab 4 credits
Introduction to the flora, fauna and physical characteristics of regional ecosystems, with emphasis on field methods and application of ecological theory. (lab required)
BIO 325 Reproductive Biopsychology 3 credits
Neuro-endocrine mechanisms underlying behavior associated with sex, pregnancy, and parental care. Equal focus on human and non-human behavior.
BIO 343 Entomology 4 credits
Introduction to the diversity and natural history of insects, with emphasis on identification of species. (lab required)
BIO 355 Behavioral Neuroscience 3 credits
Functions of the nervous/endocrine systems in mediating motivation, movement, sensation, ingestion, aggression, emotion, sleep, learning, memory, thought and behavior disorders.
BIO 365 Vertebrate Zoology 4 credits
The biology of the vertebrates, including anatomy, evolution, ecology, natural history and behavior. (lab required)
BIO 370 Ecology 3 credits
Focus on the complex interactions between diverse species and their environments. Adaptations and interdependency of organisms.
BIO 371 Behavioral Ecology 3 credits
Behavioral adaptations and interactions within and among species of animals within the context of ecological considerations.
PHI 348 Environmental Ethics 3 credits
Examination of various theories of environmental ethics that threat the issue of what ethical responsibilities human being ought to have in their relationship with the natural world.
ABEC 490 Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation 3 credits
Field study of endangered species and ecology, followed by educational outreach to school and public audiences.
ABEC 495 Research Seminar 3 credits
Independent animal-focused research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member.
ABEC 498 Internship 3 credits
Internship in animal-related setting. Joint supervision by faculty and agency personnel. Application of classroom lessons to real-world situations.