week 5 + 6 - methods in animals behaviour

Question 1

what is the questions?

Answer 1

• Species?
• Natural or controlled?
• Short-term or long-term?
• Sample size?
• Risk assessment and ethics?
• Methods e.g. technology available?

Question 2

observational data

Answer 2

• More common in natural populations
  o But also used in zoos depending on the question
• Equipment?

Question 3

sampling methods:
frequency

Answer 3

o Instantaneous
 Set time interval
o Continuous
 Observe indiviual and wirte down when they change
 Fewer variables
o Ad libitum
 Record something when you see it
o Combination

Question 4

sampling methods
type

Answer 4

o Focal
 One individual at a time
o Scan
 Scanning a group (the majority of behaviour)

Question 5

sampling methods
length of time

Answer 5

o Overall
o Per individual/group

Question 6

wild vs. controlled studies

Answer 6

• Same methods can often be applied in both situations
  o Natural populations:
   Can take longer,
   Down to chance
   But reflection of true behaviour and only way to record behaviours such as ranging
  o Controlled populations:
   Collect more data in a shorter time
   Can ask specific questions
   E.g can animals cooperate to perform a task, and use more equipment, but some questions cant be asked
  o Species dependent
   E.g. ants vs. apes

Question 7

newer technology

Answer 7

• E.g. drones
• Can record collective movement
• This is very difficult to do with our eyes

Question 8

next steps?

Answer 8

Think about…
- Time frame
- Comparisons
- Location
- Additional variables
- Keep it simple
- Sampling methods
- Why?
o Role of behaviour
o Wild studies
o Comparison with other ape species
o Social dynamics: group size and composition
o Age-sex comparisons
o Comparison with naturalistic enclosures