Ethograms: Measuring Behavior

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.

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.

Ethogram: A tool for measuring behavior

• A qualitative description of an animal’s normal behavior becomes quantitative data.

• An inventory of an animal’s behavior.

• Requires time spent watching animals and taking notes.

questions

hypothesis

background researchand/or

observations

Getting Started

1. 2.

3.

How a Field Study Works

Getting Started: Overview

1. Choose a study animal.

2. Record initial observations and field notes in journal to determine a repertoire.

3. Determine a question.

4. Generate and test the hypothesis.

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.)

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.

3. Big Questions:Two questions that can be easily

measured in a zoo setting are:

1. How does the animal use it’s exhibit space?

2. What is the animal doing in it’s exhibit space?

Think: How are these questions different?

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!

Thanks for your attention!

Questions?

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.

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.