Lecture 5 Undertaking Behaviour studies Flashcards
How do you study animal behavior?
This requires an aspect of behavior to be measured which is quantified by allocating numbers to observations according to specified rules.
What do you need to study?
The mechanisms that cause the behaviour, for example hormones
The understanding of the specific animals behaviour as a whole
This can include interactions within populations as well as movement of an individual’s limb.
However this all depends on the question being asked
Give an example of behaviour questions?
Gull paddles its feet furiously up and down in the sand mud- running on the spot
So you then answer these:
What is happening?
Why?
What are the 4 questions?
Why? So what do they get out of it? Function - What evolutionary advantage does it give? Survival value? - what does the adaptation do to survival rate?
Also what makes them do it? What started this and what stimulates them to do it?
What is the development question?
How does the behaviour develop? Is it learned? Determine by comparing behaviour of young and old
What is the Evolve question?
How has this behaviour evolved? Using the historical origins you can determine this. Is it seen in closely related species? Use DNA evidence.
Define the classification of an experiment?
An experiment is only classified as an experiment when following this definition: Manipulating something (Independent variable) and measuring its effect on something else (Dependent variable), while other facts are held constant.
What is the problem with laboratory studies?
Becomes difficult to generalize
The factors that affect captive behaviour may not affect behaviour in the wild
Artificial situations can affect behaviour with constraints in range of behaviours.
What is an free-living animal?
An free-living animal, this is an animal with a more natural behaviour, this study can provide an understanding of how animals behaviour is adapted to its normal environment
what can be a problem with fieldwork?
Visibility and timing can be a problem
Some behaviours found in one habitat may not be typical in others
Complexity- confounding
variables (Confusing vairables)
Explain controlled field study
Sometimes aspects of the environment can be changed or controlled during the field work. However this is not often possible or even done.
What is correlation?
Similar result however could be mean nothing at all
When is it best to observe?
It is best to observe at the appropriate time of day and season
Define Diurnal
meaning day
Define Nocturnal
Meaning night
Define Diel
meaning 24hr pattern
What can 24 hour sampling do?
24 hour sampling can be done to look at the variations over a day/night cycle
When is it best to keep to an observational point?
It is best to use the same time each day as an observational point
Results shouldn’t be generalized to other times
What are the dangers in recording behaviour?
The observer becoming part of their own experiment, sometimes if the observer is involved they can teach the animal to respond to human traits which will give them incorrect data. Often the teaching is accidental and only works with the observers behaviour.
Being eaten by the animals
What shouldn’t be done when recording behaviour?
Not identifying other possible external influences
Animals that aren’t fit, healthy or are injured or even dead should not be used
Ignoring the fact that animals may be using senses that cannot identify or be measured
What are more dangers of recording behaviour?
Interpreting before describing behaviour
Ignoring the fact that behavioural differences in captive or domestic situations may be different compared to the wild
Forgetting that classifications of behaviour known as typologies are artificial, they may ignore behaviours that are not so discrete
Define Anthropomorphism
Assigning human feelings onto animals
Define Ethogram
This is a formal list of behaviours which are all associated with a particular species.
It is an early stage in which investigation undergoes with the behavioural repertoire of a species.
What are the behaviours listed?
The behaviours listed are so very discrete, characteristic and describable that any observer may record the number of such acts or even the time in which the acts are engaged in with a time budget.
What difficulties involved in compiling ethograms might include?
Missing the rarely performed behaviours, graded displays (Sometimes behaviour is done in a larger or smaller way). Inter-individual variation and non-stereotyped behaviours.
How could the behaviours be written down?
The behaviours described could be written down with any reference to their purpose.
Some species may use what might be a threat display, however this should still be given a descriptive name.
Each behaviour in the list must have a name and a definition to help the readers understand what you mean.
What is the sampling rules?
Sampling rules: Sampling is needed during the observation of a group of animals, this is because it is unrealistic to provide a complete description of the behaviour of a group of animals.
What is Ad libitum sampling?
No systematic constraints, note down what is visible and seems relevant. This is useful for preliminary observations
What is focal sampling?
Focus upon an individual out of a group, their behaviour is recorded over a given time.
What is scan sampling?
The group is scanned entirely, their behaviours are recorded at regular intervals
Define Behaviour sampling
This is the focus on the one particular behaviour
The whole group is scanned, however when one individual is performing the behavior under observation they are focused on until they stop the specific behaviour. The whole group is constantly scanned until another performs this act.
This type of observation is good for significant types of behaviours such as fighting.
How can recording behaviour be done?
The way in which the behaviour is recorded and the time in which it is recorded must be decided
Check sheet used for recording
A tape recorder, video camera or an automatic recording device can be used
What are the recording rules?
Behaviour must be recorded at predetermined time intervals. Time sampling
Recording can be continuous
Define Latency
This is the measure of the time in which it takes for an animal to perform a specific behaviour following an event
Define frequency
The measurement of the number of occurrences of a behaviour within a given time.
Explain duration
This is the measurement of the length of time of a which a single occurrence of behaviour lasts.
A duration of time is given and within that time, the behaviour is timed. Stopping once the behaviour is finished. But continuing the timer if recurred within the duration of time.
Define intensity
This when a measurement is difficult to define because it depends on the behaviour being observed and can be measured in a variety of units
Explain how the study of sequence of behaviours works?
Observation of a sequence in which behaviours are carried out
Move from one behaviour to another.
What are the 3 Rs in eithics?
Reduction in number of animals used
Refinement of experimental procedures to minimise impact
Replacement, looking for alternatives
Stick to the 3 Rs to keep the task Ethical at all times
