Behavioral observations LAB: 1

Information which can be obtained (1)  the presence or absence of the particular activity;  the frequency of occurrence of each activity during the observation period;  the duration of each bout of each activity;  the intensity of the activity at each occurrence;

4th problem  Evolution of Phylogeny –How did the behavior evolved during the history of the species ? –What factors were involved in molding the behavior over the course of evolutionary history ?

Recording behavior Check sheets Tape-recorder Video recorder Computer software Direct observationVideotaping

Check Sheet Design Sample intervals Categories of behaviorIndependent variables: (date; time; observer; subjects...)

Preliminaries to measuring behavior  Preliminary observation –raw material for formulating questions and hypotheses –choosing recording methods & measures requires some knowledge of the subject and their behavior

Ways to describe behavior  The structure is the appearance, physical form or temporal patterning of behavior. –“run tip of bill along primary feather of wing”  The consequences are the effects of the subject’s behavior on the environment, on other individuals or on itself. –“obtain food; escape from a predator”

Ways to describe behavior  The individual’s spatial relation to features of the environment or to other individuals. –emphasis: where or with whom approach feeder; leave nest;

Choosing categories: general guidelines  Choose enough categories to describe the behavior (+provide background information) too many: difficult to record reliable data too few: miss important background information

Choosing categories: general guidelines  Define precisely the categories  Categories should be independent  Categories should be “generally” homogeneous

Types of measure  Latency: (measured in units of time: s; min. or h) is the time from a specific event to the onset of the first occurrence of the behavior. For example, if a piglet suckles for the first time 15 minutes after being born, the latency to suckle is 15 minutes Birth Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3) 0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measure  Latency: (measured in units of time: s; min. or h) is the time from a specific event to the onset of the first occurrence of the behavior. For example, if a piglet suckles for the first time 15 minutes after being born, the latency to suckle is 15 minutes Birth Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3) 0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measure  Frequency: (measured in reciprocal units of time; e.g., s -1, min. -1 or h - 1 ) is the number of occurrences of the behavior pattern per unit of time. For example, if a piglet suckles 3 times during a 60 minutes recording session, the frequency of suckling is 3 h -1. Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3) 0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measure  Duration: (measured in units of time; e.g., s, min. or h ) is the length of time for which a single occurrence of the behavior pattern lasts. For example, if a piglet starts suckling and stops 20 s later, the duration of that suckling period was 20 s. Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3) 0 15min 35min 60min total duration =60 s/h proportion =60/ mean duration 1+2+3/3=20 s

Types of measure  Intensity: the number of component acts per unit of time. For example, the sound intensity of the vocalization (piglet or sow) that precedes milk ejection. Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3) 0 15min 35min 60min

Information which can be obtained (1)  1) the presence or absence of the particular activity;  2) the frequency of occurrence of each activity during the observation period;  3) the duration of each bout of each activity;  4) the intensity of the activity at each occurrence;

Information which can be obtained (2)  the latency of occurrence of the activity after some stimulus or previous action;  the timing and nature of subsequent activities;  the timing and nature of behavior changes in relation to physiological changes.

Events versus States  Events: behavioral patterns of relatively short duration  discrete body movements  vocalizations

Events versus States  States: behavioral patterns of relatively long duration  body postures  resting, feeding, drinking

Sampling rules  Ad libitum sampling no systematic constraints are placed

Sampling rules  Focal sampling one animal (one litter...) for a specified amount of time min :00-10:00 12:00-15:00

Sampling rules  Scan sampling the whole group is scanned at regular intervals min :00-10:00 12:00-15:00

Sampling rules  Behavior sampling the whole group is observed and each occurrence of a particular behavior is recorded

Sampling rules Recording rules Continuous recording Time sampling Instantaneous sampling One-zero sampling Ad libitum sampling Focal sampling Scan sampling Behavior sampling

Recording rules  Continuous recording each occurrence of the behavior is recorded  times at which a behavior pattern occurs (events)  behavioral pattern start and finishing time (states) bull 7* Performer Behavior gc gc= groom cow gb=groom performer Receiver 5 start end outcome 7:307:35 gb * Focal

Recording rules  Time sampling –a) instantaneous sampling (freeze picture) –b) one-zero sampling (occurred or not)  register the occurrence of the behavior using “sample intervals” 7:00 Samplegrazingdrinking walking 1 2 5; idle s. idle l.other 7:02 b) a)