Methodologies in the Study of Animal Behaviour Flashcards
Examining behaviour differences/similarities in taxa or between taxa gives insight into what?
Phenotypes and evolution.
What biases and interpretation mistakes are to be avoided during experimentation and observation? When else are they to be avoided?
Giving clues to the subject, misinterpreting behaviours.
During recording or analysis of the behaviour/data.
Define amphibologic behaviours.
Behaviours or behavioural categories that are ambiguous.
Provide two examples of issues with field/observational research.
Differential observability: species, groups, individuals (e.g., in wolves, omega animals are often hiding, out of sight).
Identification of subjects (e.g., study of ravens has challenges for individual identification).
Comparative studies usually focus on EXPLICIT comparisons of what? What designs are common?
Observable traits between sub-species, species, or other ecologically and/or evolutionarily relevant groups.
Between-group designs and cross-correlational designs.
The comparative method can be used for what?
Explicit hypothesis testing (experimental).
Analytical description (observational and often correlational).
Comparative studies usually combine what approaches?
Comparative with “contrastive.”
When comparative studies look for similarities, they look for _____. When they look for differences (contrasts), they look for _____.
Convergence; divergence.
Comparative studies are the best method to identify and study what? They can be applied to compare what?
Adaptive behaviours.
Taxa (i.e., two or more taxonomic units); populations within one species.
Define the evolutionary approach.
Assumption of common ancestry; focus on behavioural homologies; behaviour is a taxonomic tool.
Define the non-evolutionary approach.
Exploration of behavioural diversity across species; exploration of very similar behaviours among very different species (analogies); study of behavioural “species boundaries” or behavioural Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms.
Define the “August Krogh principle.” Where is it common? Give an example.
A given species is the perfect animal model to investigate a specific problem.
Common approach in physiological psychology and neuroscience.
E.g., woodpeckers and concussions.
Define reproductive isolating mechanisms. What are the five?
Prevent species/sub-species from mating with each other.
Chromosomal: non-viable/sterile hybrids.
Mechanical: morphological incompatibilities.
Biorhythmic: incompatible reproductive rhythms (e.g., breeding season or circadian rhythms).
Ecological: habitat incompatibilities.
Behavioural (most common): e.g., Specific-Mate Recognition System.
Describe the general sociability of the marmota genus.
Communal but generally non-social. Will still whistle when threat around.
What is a congeneric study?
Studying species from the same genus.
