Raoul Mulder

Animal Behaviour

Tools for studying Animal Behaviour

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Problematic behaviours

Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed:

- by individuals we can’t easily distinguish

VS

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Problematic behaviours

Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed:

- by individuals we can’t easily distinguish- in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical)

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Problematic behaviours

Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed:

- by individuals we can’t easily distinguish- in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical)

...in the air

...underground

...underwater

Laysan albatross

Marsupial mole

Sea turtle- in places where we can’t easily follow

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Problematic behaviours

Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed:

- by individuals we can’t easily distinguish- in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical)

- at speeds or scales we can’t absorb

Starling murmuration

- in places where we can’t easily follow

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Distinguishing individuals

Internal PIT-tags

Coloured leg bands

Individual IDs on neck collars

Individual IDs on stickers

Unique ear tag combinations &

radio collars

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Measuring ‘invisible’ animal signals

Technological innovations allow us to ‘eavesdrop’ on animal communication in channels beyond our sensory abilities

We measure colours using spectrometers ...Sound using sophisticated recorders ...Chemical signals using GC-MS ... Peaks show

different compounds

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Measuring ‘invisible’ animal signalsExample: budgerigar

Fluoro+ Fluoro-0 0

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

Experimental treatment of stimulus bird

Prop

ortio

n of

tim

esp

ent i

n fro

nt o

f female male

Experimental set-up

With sunblockF-

Without sunblockF+

Fluoro+ Fluoro-

0.3 0.3

0.10.1

Testbird ??

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Tracking animal movements

Daily or seasonal movements of animals can be tracked with hi-tech devices

Camera ‘traps’

RadiotelemetryGPS devices

‘Biologging’ vs ‘biotelemetry’

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Slowing down the action

High-speed video technology allows us to slow down the action so that we can make sense of what is happening

Video can be innovatively coupled with other technologies to provide new insights

Example:Spearing mantis shrimp

Check out the Patek Lab for more high-speed videos:http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/pateklab/video

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Measuring fitness outcomes

Example 1: black-headed gull

We are often interested in the fitness outcomes (e.g. number of offspring produced), but these are not always easily measured

Black-headed Gull

DNA fingerprinting used to measure extra-pair paternity in black-headed gulls:- 20% of all chicks resulted from extra-pair matings- 9% of all chicks resulted from egg-dumping

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Relationships and interactions

Estimating relatedness using genetic tools

Understanding relationships and interactions through social networks

Example: Pig-tailed macaques

Conflict management done by ‘policer’ males

Grooming

Play

With policemen

Without policemen

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New frontier: ‘reality mining’

Collection and analysis of behavioural interactions, using technology

High-resolution 3D positional telemetry used to track pike in lake basin

Internal PIT-tags inserted in fish; detected by hydrophones in the lake.

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Summary

Technology is changing the way we study many aspects of animal behaviour

We have diverse tools to identify individuals, record behaviour, and track movements and interactions

‘Reality mining’ - simultaneous monitoring of all interactions between many different animals will become more commonplace

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