Ethograms: Measuring Behavior

1. Ethograms: Measuring Behavior

2. Importance of Observation • Initially, questions about animal behavior come from observations. • You must understand your study animal before you can begin testing ideas. • Patience and attention to detail is helpful.. • Acting in a QUIET and CALM manner is also essential.

3. Ethology • Ethology is the comparative study of animal behavior. • Examine biological roots and meanings of animal actions. • The first step in the observation process is to construct an ethogram.

4. Ethogram: A tool for measuring behavior • A qualitativedescription of an animal’s normal behavior becomes quantitative data. • An inventory of an animal’s behavior. • Requires time spent watching animals and taking notes.

5. Getting Started 1. 2. 3.

6. How a Field Study Works

7. Getting Started: Overview • Choose a study animal. • Record initial observations and field notes in journal to determine a repertoire. • Determine a question. • Generate and test the hypothesis.

8. 1. Choose a Study Animal Consider the following factors: • Try to observe the subject at the closest range possible without causing a change in behavior. • You should choose an animal that can be reliably found and observed. • Consider the speed and how the animal moves. (This will assist in choosing a time interval later.)

9. 2. AD LIBITUM sampling • an informal, note-taking procedure of as many behavior patterns as you see. • Be as descriptive as possible. • Sketch if necessary.

10. 3. Big Questions: Two questions that can be easily measured in a zoo setting are: • How does the animal use it’s exhibit space? • What is the animal doing in it’s exhibit space? Think: How are these questions different?

11. 4. Generating a hypothesis • What information do you need to know to make a prediction about your study animal? • We’ll come back to this next week!

12. Thanks for your attention! Questions?

13. Your Mission: Form teams of 3 – 4 members. Each team will : • Conduct a short field study • Observe an organism • Record their observations and questions: • What do you notice? • What is interesting? • Next week your team use the skills you learned while constructing your ethogram to test one hypothesis about your study animal.

14. In Your Science Notebook: • Find 2 organisms that interest you. Why are you interested in this organism? • Observe the organism and write down what you see. What types of behaviors are you observing? Do you notice any trends? • Develop at least 2 ideas for investigation questions.