Universität Wien
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300199 UE Exercise on behaviour observation and behavioural genetics using the example of Japanese macaques (2025W)

5.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 16 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes

The preliminary meeting will take place online on October 1, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

You can join the Zoom meeting for the preliminary meeting via this link:
https://univienna.zoom.us/j/65205315832?pwd=1kdFVzsSTWYd8MSvdT1zqfs6WenCZO.1

Alternatively, you can join via the Zoom client using the following details:
Meeting ID: 652 0531 5832
Passcode: 080372

Participation in the preliminary meeting is mandatory (representation is possible); otherwise, you will be deregistered from the course. Participants on the waiting list can only move up after attending the preliminary meeting.

The course consists of 9 days in total: 7 days on-site at Affenberg and 2 days online afterward.
In the winter semester 2025, three blocks are available to choose from:

1. Block: October 7 – October 13, 2025 (October 14 & 15 online)
2. Block: October 21 – October 27, 2025 (October 28 & 29 online)
3. Block: November 11 – November 17, 2025 (November 18 & 19 online)

The allocation of blocks will take place after the preliminary meeting. Block assignment will be based on the ranked preferences of participants and is independent of the number of points allocated to participate in the course. 8 students can participate per block.

The course will be conducted as on-site teaching.
It will take place at Affenberg Landskron: https://affenberg.univie.ac.at

Accommodation
Accommodation will be provided at the dormitory of the “Schule für Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege“, Europaplatz 3, 9500 Villach, Austria.
Rooms will be free of charge. However, a total fee of approximately ~60,- Euro/person will be charged for final cleaning.


Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this comprehensive course, participants will gain a deep understanding of conducting scientific behavioral studies with semi-free-living Japanese macaques, featuring a 7-day excursion to the Landskron Monkey Mountain, followed by 2 days of online instruction

1. Behavioral Observations
Developing a research plan, setting clear objectives, and formulating hypotheses, implementing different behavior observation techniques, gathering behavioral data and organizing it for analysis, interpreting findings and drawing conclusions based on collected data, presentation of findings in accordance with research questions and relevant literature

2. Introduction to Molecular Techniques
Hands-on experience with DNA extraction techniques, assay design, performing real-time PCR (qPCR) experiments, applying gel electrophoresis techniques for DNA analysis, writing of a short scientific report on the laboratory part (short intro, methods, results, discussion)

Assessment and permitted materials

Immanent exam
Participation in study design, data collection in the field and in lab work
Participation in professional discussions
Analysis of behavioral data and presentation of results
Laboratory final report (1-2 pages short scientific report in manuscript form)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Attendance on at least 8 days (1 day off possible)

The following must be fulfilled during the lecture:

Fieldwork (Mini-project): ethogram & study design, systematically recording and analyzing behavioral data, interpretation and discussion of the findings in accordance with research questions and relevant literature, short presentation of the final results

Laboratory work: DNA isolation, assay design, performing qPCR and gel electrophoresis, evaluation of lab results, writing a short report on lab results

Examination topics

continuous practical coursework (data collection, lab report, oral presentation) will be graded instead of a final exam

Reading list

Relevant literature and other information will be made available via Moodle after the preliminary meeting.

Association in the course directory

MAN 3, UF MA BU 01, UF MA BU 04, MZO4, CoBeNe W1

Last modified: Tu 07.10.2025 15:27