Behavioural Ecology Group
The Behavioural Ecology Group (BHE) studies the causes and consequences of animal behaviour with a focus on social contexts. We provide education in Behavioural Ecology and Applied Animal Behaviour.
Our research focuses on:
• Behavioural Ecology
• Applied Animal Behaviour
• Behaviour of Companion Animals
Head of BHE Group
MSc projects
Do you want to do your thesis at our Behavioural ecology group?
We offer a variety of research topics ranging from sexual selection to animal welfare on both wild and domestic animals.
We also encourage students to bring their own ideas for thesis topics. For more information please contact marc.naguib-at-wur.nl
Courses
Education by the Behaviour Ecology Group covers the whole field of animal behaviour, including basic behavioural mechanisms, behavioural ecology, applied animal behaviour and life history decisions. Our courses are directed at both Biology and Animal Science students.
Research
The main expertise and research focus of the BHE group is on social behaviour, involving a range of projects that specifically address the causes as well the consequences of key aspects of social behaviour.
Latest News
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Zebra finches tweet when it’s hot, but not to warn their offspring - Zebra finches produce calls under high temperatures. Research by Macquarie University and Wageningen University & Research has shown that this is... -
Bionieuws: ‘Hitteroep vink is bijeffect hijgen’ -
A well-informed dog owner is a satisfied dog owner - Being informed about what owning a dog will ask of you, may be key to becoming a satisfied, happy dog owner, researchers from the Behavioural Ecology... -
Understanding animal societies - The Behavioural Ecology group shows how animal societies function by mapping social and communication networks. This provides fundamental... -
Kees van Oers appointed as professor by special appointment of Animal Personality - Wageningen University & Research has appointed Kees van Oers as professor by special appointment of Animal Personality. This chair position is... -
Parenting styles of dog owners focus on correcting, emotion or trainability of the dog - Dog owners raise their dog in a way that is similar to the upbringing of children. Starting points for the parenting style used, differ between dog...
Latest publications
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Opportunities for short rotation coppice production on free-range chicken farms in Flanders : Farmers' perceptions and cost-benefit analysis
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (2018). - ISSN 1742-1705 - 10 p.
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No evidence for a heritable altruism polymorphism in Tibetan ground tits
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115 (2018)48. - ISSN 0027-8424 - p. E11208 - E11209.
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Where in the serotonergic system does it go wrong? Unravelling the route by which the serotonergic system affects feather pecking in chickens
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 95 (2018). - ISSN 0149-7634 - p. 170 - 188.
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Dog ownership satisfaction determinants in the owner-dog relationship and the dog’s behaviour
PLoS One 13 (2018)9. - ISSN 1932-6203 - 14 p.
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Feather pecking genotype and phenotype affect behavioural responses of laying hens
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 205 (2018). - ISSN 0168-1591 - p. 141 - 150.