Lecture 7 - Behavior and Animal Welfare

Question 1

How do we quantify behavior?

Answer 1

Behavioral diversity (types) 
Behavioral frequency (how often) 
Temporal patterns (consistency) 
Behavioral function (purpose)

Question 2

How do we measure behavior?

Answer 2

Latency
Frequency
Duration
Intensity

Question 3

What is latency?

Answer 3

The interval between stimulation and response

• measured in units of time
• period of observation is usually limited

Question 4

What is frequency?

Answer 4

The number of occurrences of the behavior pattern per unit of time

• rate of occurrence
• ex feeding bouts, pressing a lever 2x/min

Question 5

What is duration?

Answer 5

Length of time for which a single behavior occurs

• actual units or as percentage

Question 6

What is intensity?

Answer 6

No universal definition
- how extreme the behavior is

Ex vocalization or lameness

Question 7

What is an event?

Answer 7

• relatively short duration
• Discrete body movements (biting, kicking)
• vocalizations

Question 8

What are states?

Answer 8

-relatively long duration

Ex lying

Question 9

What is an ethogram?

Answer 9

A catalogue of the discrete species typical behavior patterns that form the basic repertoire of the species

Question 10

What is the difference between a repertoire and catalogue?

Answer 10

R - all the species behaviors

C - part of the species behaviors also known as an ethogram

Question 11

What is Ad Libitum sampling?

Answer 11

• no constraints on the duration of the observation period, how many individuals are observed, or what data or observations are recorded
• usually results in copious field notes
• often used when behaviors of interest are being identified

Question 12

What is focal sampling?

Answer 12

• observing a dingle individual of a particular species, usually for a specified period of time
• often used to study specific behavior patterns
• the observer recorded all instances of the behavior under study within a given time interval

Question 13

What is all occurrence sampling?

Answer 13

• observer focuses on a particular behavior rather than an individual
• provides the rate of occurrence of a behavior (# occurrences/unit of time)
• ex alarms calls given in a group of monkeys

Question 14

What is scan sampling?

Answer 14

• observer censuses a large number of individuals and records their behavior at the instant they are observed
• must be done relatively quickly
• usually restricted to broad categories of behavior such as “foraging”, “flying”, or “resting”
• may take a few seconds or several minutes

Question 15

What is Continuous recording?

Answer 15

• exact and faithful record of what behavior

- measuring true frequencies and durations and the time when behaviors start and stop

Question 16

What is Time Sampling recording?

Answer 16

• instantaneous (what is happening at that moment when you took the info)
• one zero (did it happen or not in given period of time)