INFO

Ethology is about behaviour, which can be defined as a visible stream of muscle flexions manifesting as postures. Fast changing postures result in motion and behaviour is the tool with which individuals use their environment. Ethology has been defined by the Dutch Nobel Prize winner Nico Tinbergen as the biological study of behaviour. This means that it is about an observable phenomenon (behaviour) that is studied by the biological method, i.e. a general scientific method with specific type of questions about causation, survival value, evolution (the 3 major problems of biology as identified by Huxley) and ontogeny (as added by Tinbergen). Understanding animal behaviour from the perspective of these ‘4 questions of Tinbergen’ is fundamental in ETH education. With the understanding of behaviour it is possible to address practical problems such as those related to animal welfare. The latter is an important societal concern and applied ethology typically is the method to address animal welfare issues. Because of the tight connection between applied ethology and animal welfare, the latter and concepts like behavioural needs emotions and motivations play a major role in ETH eductation.

Ethology and Animal Welfare

This site aims to support students that want to do a Thesis (Major or Minor, i.e. < 30 Credits) or an Internship in Ethology. ETH education is aimed primarily at students that follow the Masters Programmes Animal Sciences (MAS) or Biology (MBI). Only students that have completed their Bachelor study programme (BSc) are allowed to start a Thesis / Internship (unless approval has been given by a student’s study coordinator). The qualification needed for doing an ETH Thesis / Internship is the course Behaviour and Environment (ETH 30306). MAS students doing the specialization Animal Health and Behaviour are expected to have completed Health, Welfare and Management (ADP 30306). It is recommended to follow the course Behaviour and Endocrinology (ETH 20306), which is about endocrinology and animal behaviour: mechanism, development, function and evolution (book by Chris Barnard, Pearson, Prentice Hall). It is advised that students plan their Thesis or Internship well ahead. For more information on ETH eduction related matters (including Thesises and Internships) contact ETH coordinator Bonne Beerda (bonne.beerda@wur.nl). The secretary's office for ETH related matters: office.adp@wur.nl (Nanette van Hapert, Lora van der Kleijn)

Students doing a ETH thesis start by writing a research plan, which is presented during a pre-colloquium. Findings from literature and the research results  are described and discussed in a thesis (for demo see pdf), abstract and colloquium. The final mark (for  its calculation see “Study Guidy Ethology July 2007.pdf “) is given following an oral exam with the supervisor and representative of the former ETH chair.

It is advised strongly that students plan their Thesis or Internship well ahead and in consultation with the educational coordinator Bonne Beerda (bonne.beerda@wur.nl). Students who want to make an appointment or receive additional information can contact him or the secretary's office for ETH related matters (office.adp@wur.nl that is Nanette van Hapert and Lora van der Kleijn).

Platform Behaviour and Animal Welfare (click link for platform site)
WUR-ASG scientists investigating animal behaviour and welfare have created a platform for exchanging information and organizing scientific meetings.  The aim of the platform is to facilitate interactions and knowledge exchange between scientists working in the field of animal behaviour health and welfare and inform WUR students on ongoing research, topics for theses and issues on Ethology education.

Selecting a research topic

The choice of a research topic is determined in close consultation with supervisors of the former Ethology Chair as they safeguard the quality of theses with and ETH code. Too little involvement of the supervisor of the former Ethology Chair in the early stage implies that the student may in the end fail the Thesis because of insufficiencies in the experimental design / organization. Students may participate in ongoing projects of staff members or Thesis and trainee posts may be available at other parts of the Animal Sciences Group (ASG), including the Animal Production Division in Lelystad or Chairs like the Adaptation Physiology Group and Human & Animal Physiology Group. Also, it is possibly for groups outside ASG, e.g. The Resource Ecology Group, or WUR to host an ETH Thesis or Internship. Note, that supervisors of the former Ethology Chair need to be involved.

A variety of research topics in different research areas are available for students to work on. For additional information we refer to this website, the Zodiac bulletin board at the corridor of the Adaptation Physiology Group, fellow students and the teachers of Ethology, Paul Koene (paul.koene@wur.nl), e.g. about chicken, zoo animals and animals in nature reserves, Joanne van der Borg (Joanne.vanderBorg@wur.nl), e.g about companion animals, like dogs and cats, or and Francien de Jonge (Francien.deJonge@wur.nl), for different subjects (see website). General information on theses and internships can be found in pdf download Study Guidy Ethology July 2007.pdf