Lab 3: Behavior

Objectives

•Become familiar with methods of collecting behavior data

•Develop hypotheses and predictions

•Collect and analyze data

•Practice presenting data

TA feedback & Quiz

1) Get ½ sheet of paper (split with neighbor)

2) Put notes away

3) Take quiz. 10-15 min. Turn over when finished.

4) Write TA feedback on ½ sheet– 1 thing that works well for you

– 1 thing you would change, how & why

THANK YOU!!

Why study behavior?

• To better understand the relationship between animals and their environment

• Evolution of sociality

• To understand human behavior

• Conservation, management, pest control

individual pair group pop. species

Levels of Behavior

Behavior can be inherited or learned

Genetically-based, inherited

Learned

• Fitness: # offspring an individual contributes to the next generation

relative to # offspring other individuals of the population contribute– relative genetic contribution to future generations

Behavior can affect fitness

Higher fitness

• Fitness: # offspring an individual contributes to the next generation

relative to # offspring other individuals of the population contribute– relative genetic contribution to future generations

• Maximize fitness through increased– Survival– Reproduction

Behavior can affect fitness

Optimality TheoryOptimality models try to predict the combination of

costs and benefits that will ultimately maximize an individual’s inclusive fitness

costsbenefits

Net gain

Net loss

benefitscosts

Categories of BehaviorBehavioral States vs. Events

States EventsLonger

“timed with a stopwatch”Short, instantaneous events

SwimmingAmount of time

Jump# of occurrences

Stickleback behavior

• http://www.arkive.org/three-spined-stickleback/gasterosteus-aculeatus-aculeatus/video-ac09b.html

• Try to identify – States (duration)– Events (occurrence)

Methods for Observing Behavior

Ad libitum –

useful in gaining preliminary ideas for research

Potential drawback?

Methods for Observing Behavior

Ethogram -

useful in developing full picture of all behaviors

Methods for Observing Behavior

• Focal Animal Sampling (FAS) - observe 1 individual at a time– frequencies/rates of behaviors– states and events– sometimes difficult to follow one

individual

Why useful?

Methods for Observing Behavior

Scan Sampling - samples more than one individual at a

time.– better for states rather than eventsWhy is this the case?

– data from a number of individuals at the same time

Methods for Observing Behavior

Time Budgets -

allows for comparisons between individuals, groups and/or species

– uses durations of behaviors

Stickleback Ethogram

Zig: Male darts laterally back and forth

Lead: Male approaches female, then quickly turns away and swims toward nest

Examine: Female puts her head into opening of nest

Tustle: Males lock mouths and pull and thrash

Today’s activity•Select species•Observe (15-20 min)

–construct ethogram•Question, Hypothesis, Prediction(s)

–what data do you need to collect?–what methods will you use?–make a data sheet

•Collect your data (20-30 min)

Today’s activity

• Come back after 1 hour• Analyze data (mean, SE)• Make graphs• Presentation

Focus on ComparisonExample

• Q: What affects rates of play in spotted hyena cubs?

• H: Food availability affects rates of play in spotted hyena cubs

• P: Cubs will play more during periods of high prey

• Methods: conduct Focal Animal Sampling on cubs during high prey and low prey periods

comparison

Cubs play more when there is more food

Test with t-testComparison of means

Today’s activity

• Some potential Locations:– Behind Nat Sci (birds)– Red Cedar River behind Admin (ducks)– Beaumont tower (squirrels)

Today’s activity• Select location• Ethogram (15 min)• Q/H/P (make comparison!!)• Determine sampling method• Check in with Alycia • Collect data (20-30 min)• Return to class

• I will stay in courtyard behind Nat Sci for Qs

Meet back in class at: ________

Presentation• Title, Authors• Question, Hypothesis, Prediction(s)• Methods

– study site, organism, sampling methods, sample size, stats you plan to use

• Results– Ethogram, means, standard errors

• Conclusions– biological interpretation, future questions/directions

E-mail to Grace: chengrac@msu.edu. Present next week