Proposal WritingProposal WritingLaboratory 3Laboratory 3

Biol/Psych 3750Biol/Psych 3750

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Writing a ProposalWriting a Proposal

• Research proposals serve a number of Research proposals serve a number of purposes. Among them:purposes. Among them:– They They convinceconvince others that your research is others that your research is

worth undertaking. worth undertaking. – They enable you to They enable you to demonstrate expertise and demonstrate expertise and

competencycompetency in your particular area of study. in your particular area of study. – They may They may serve as a contractserve as a contract between the between the

researcher and her funders. researcher and her funders. – They serve as a They serve as a planning toolplanning tool for the for the

researcher. researcher.

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• Well, first you need a clear Well, first you need a clear research research questionquestion. Researchers get their research . Researchers get their research questions from many different places.questions from many different places.– Observation of the worldObservation of the world– TheoryTheory– Previous researchPrevious research– Practical concernsPractical concerns– Personal interestPersonal interest

• Look in many different places at the same Look in many different places at the same time. Read, talk to people, and look closely time. Read, talk to people, and look closely at the world around youat the world around you

Great!So how doI start?

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Setting Limits on Your Setting Limits on Your ResearchResearchHaving decided upon a suitable research Having decided upon a suitable research

problem it is crucial that the researcher problem it is crucial that the researcher define the research question define the research question unambiguously.unambiguously.

• This involves two closely related tasks:This involves two closely related tasks:

– Provide explicit definitions for all concepts Provide explicit definitions for all concepts used in the research questionused in the research question

– specify the limits of the studyspecify the limits of the study

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• several key components several key components which must be included in which must be included in every research proposal:every research proposal:

What goesinto aresearchproposal?

• A description of the research problem.A description of the research problem.• An argument as to why the problem is An argument as to why the problem is

important – “rationale” including a review important – “rationale” including a review of literature relevant to the research of literature relevant to the research problem.problem.

•A description of the proposed research A description of the proposed research methodology.methodology.

•Predictions/InterpretationPredictions/Interpretation

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Introduction:Introduction:• Tells a story that is developed from the Tells a story that is developed from the

literature and leads to your hypothesisliterature and leads to your hypothesis

• Provide explicit definitions for all Provide explicit definitions for all concepts used in the research questionconcepts used in the research question

• specify the limits of the study/define specify the limits of the study/define conceptsconcepts

• Do not report everyone’s research Do not report everyone’s research

• Instead use their results to support your Instead use their results to support your hypothesishypothesis

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Methods:Methods:

• Subjects, number, description (if appropriate)Subjects, number, description (if appropriate)

• Identify dependent and independent variablesIdentify dependent and independent variables

• Study design (ex: cross-sectional, longitudinal, Study design (ex: cross-sectional, longitudinal, etc.)etc.)

• Method of data collection (ex: scan sampling, Method of data collection (ex: scan sampling, focal animal, etc.focal animal, etc.

• Explain the comparisons that you will makeExplain the comparisons that you will make

• Statistical tests to be usedStatistical tests to be used

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Predictions and Predictions and

Interpretation:Interpretation:

• What does it mean if your statistical What does it mean if your statistical tests are significant/ Htests are significant/ HAA is true? is true?

• What does it mean if your tests are What does it mean if your tests are insignificant/ Hinsignificant/ Hoo is true? is true?

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Assignment:Assignment:

• Presentation (5 marks)Presentation (5 marks)– 10 minute presentation + 3 minutes for 10 minute presentation + 3 minutes for

class feedbackclass feedback

• Written Proposal (10 marks)Written Proposal (10 marks)– Maximum of 3 pages, including Maximum of 3 pages, including

referencesreferences– Minimum of 4 journal articlesMinimum of 4 journal articles

The Role of Genetic The Role of Genetic Relatedness in Grey Seal Relatedness in Grey Seal

((Halichoerus grypusHalichoerus grypus) ) Fostering Behaviour?Fostering Behaviour?

Research ProposalResearch ProposalElizabeth PerryElizabeth Perry

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Fostering behaviour in mammals is Fostering behaviour in mammals is defined here as the care of young either defined here as the care of young either in addition to or in place of that in addition to or in place of that provided by the mother. provided by the mother.

Advantages to offspring – costly for Advantages to offspring – costly for caregiver.caregiver.

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Lactation is the Lactation is the most energetically most energetically costly component costly component of reproduction in of reproduction in mammals mammals (Gittleman and (Gittleman and Thompson, 1988).Thompson, 1988).

Provisioning young other than one’s own Provisioning young other than one’s own would: would:

1)1) result in less milk (nutrients) for biological result in less milk (nutrients) for biological offspring, which could lead to weaning offspring, which could lead to weaning young at insufficient weight (reduced young at insufficient weight (reduced fitness) orfitness) or

2)2) the need to increase foraging to replenish the need to increase foraging to replenish stores which increase energetic demands stores which increase energetic demands during lactation.during lactation.

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Fostering is common Fostering is common among social animals among social animals living in small groups, living in small groups, such as silver backed such as silver backed jackals (Moehlman 1983)jackals (Moehlman 1983)

This behaviour may have This behaviour may have evolved through kin evolved through kin selection or reciprocity selection or reciprocity (Reidman 1982) or may (Reidman 1982) or may arise from maternal error arise from maternal error or milk theft (Boness et or milk theft (Boness et al. 1992)al. 1992)

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Fostering occurs in many phocid sealsFostering occurs in many phocid sealsHawaiian monk seals (Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandiMonachus schauinslandi) ) (Boness 1990)(Boness 1990)Harp seals (Harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicusPagophilus groenlandicus) (Kovacs ) (Kovacs 1987)1987)Grey Seals (Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypusHalichoerus grypus) (Boness 1990)) (Boness 1990)Harbour Seals (Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulinaPhoca vitulina) (Boness et al. ) (Boness et al. 1992)1992)

Fostering takes two forms:Fostering takes two forms: 1) females can nurse another pup after 1) females can nurse another pup after

becoming separated from their own, or becoming separated from their own, or 2) females can nurse other pups 2) females can nurse other pups

simultaneously with their own (focus of this simultaneously with their own (focus of this study)study)

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Only two studies have looked at fostering Only two studies have looked at fostering behaviour in seals directly:behaviour in seals directly:Hawaiian monk seals (Boness 1990)Hawaiian monk seals (Boness 1990)Harbour seals (Boness et al. 1992)Harbour seals (Boness et al. 1992)

Proximate explanations:Proximate explanations:Confusion following aggressive Confusion following aggressive encounters (Boness 1990)encounters (Boness 1990)Storm-induced separations (Boness et al. Storm-induced separations (Boness et al. 1992)1992)Large colonies, difficulty locating pup Large colonies, difficulty locating pup (Reidman and LeBoeuf 1982)(Reidman and LeBoeuf 1982)Poor offspring recognition systems Poor offspring recognition systems (Fogden 1971)(Fogden 1971)Reproductive errors (Reidman 1982)Reproductive errors (Reidman 1982)

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Ultimate explanations:Ultimate explanations: Additional maternal experience (good for Additional maternal experience (good for

future offspring) (Reidman 1982)future offspring) (Reidman 1982) Care is given to relatives, thereby Care is given to relatives, thereby

increasing care-giver’s inclusive fitness increasing care-giver’s inclusive fitness (Boness 1990) = kin selection(Boness 1990) = kin selection

The theory of kin selection states that an The theory of kin selection states that an individual is selected to behave individual is selected to behave altruistically provided that the benefit to altruistically provided that the benefit to kin is greater than the cost to the altruist kin is greater than the cost to the altruist (rb > c)(rb > c)

Possible role of kin selection in the Possible role of kin selection in the evolution of phocid fostering behaviour evolution of phocid fostering behaviour has not been investigatedhas not been investigated

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The objective of this study is to determine The objective of this study is to determine if kin selection could contribute to fostering if kin selection could contribute to fostering in colonially breeding grey sealsin colonially breeding grey seals

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MethodsMethods Grey seal mothers Grey seal mothers

and pups (focal and pups (focal animal) will be animal) will be observed daily (8 am observed daily (8 am to 3pm) throughout to 3pm) throughout the lactation period the lactation period (birth to weaning) on (birth to weaning) on Sable Island, CanadaSable Island, Canada

Two breeding Two breeding seasonsseasons

Blinds in haul-out sitesBlinds in haul-out sites The number of pairs included in study will The number of pairs included in study will depend on number of females that give birth depend on number of females that give birth in the haulout area (minimum 20 pairs per in the haulout area (minimum 20 pairs per season). season).

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Pair inclusion in this study will be based on Pair inclusion in this study will be based on observing the birth of the pup or certainty that observing the birth of the pup or certainty that the pup was born between observation days.the pup was born between observation days.

Mothers and their pups Mothers and their pups will be uniquely marked will be uniquely marked with paint (3 days post-with paint (3 days post-partum, to reduce partum, to reduce likelihood of separation) likelihood of separation) and a small piece of and a small piece of tissue from the hind tissue from the hind flipper will be collected flipper will be collected using a pig ear notcher using a pig ear notcher (stored in DMSO at (stored in DMSO at ambient temp)ambient temp)

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All paint-marked pairs will be All paint-marked pairs will be observed daily and the following observed daily and the following variables will be recorded:variables will be recorded: Participant IDs Participant IDs Duration of all incidences of nursing (ID Duration of all incidences of nursing (ID

pairs only – foster and biological)pairs only – foster and biological)

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Tissue samples will be prepared for Tissue samples will be prepared for DNA fingerprinting analysis (Jeffreys DNA fingerprinting analysis (Jeffreys et al. 1985) and analysed on the et al. 1985) and analysed on the basis of band sharing coefficients basis of band sharing coefficients (Lynch 1990) to determine (Lynch 1990) to determine relatednessrelatedness

Relatedness comparisons (ANOVA):Relatedness comparisons (ANOVA): females to non-biological pupsfemales to non-biological pups Females to biological pupsFemales to biological pups Females to fostered pupsFemales to fostered pups

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PredictionsPredictions

1) If kin selection does contribute to 1) If kin selection does contribute to the evolution of fostering behaviour, the evolution of fostering behaviour, then I expect to find that the then I expect to find that the relatedness of females to fostered relatedness of females to fostered pups will be greater than relatedness pups will be greater than relatedness between females and non-biological between females and non-biological pups but not as great as relatedness pups but not as great as relatedness between mothers and their own pups.between mothers and their own pups.

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PredictionsPredictions

2) If kin selection does not contribute 2) If kin selection does not contribute to the evolution of fostering to the evolution of fostering behaviour, then I expect to find that behaviour, then I expect to find that the relatedness of females to the relatedness of females to fostered pups will be the same as the fostered pups will be the same as the relatedness between females and relatedness between females and non-biological pups.non-biological pups.

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PredictionsPredictions

2) If #2 is true (kin selection does not 2) If #2 is true (kin selection does not contribute to the evolution of fostering contribute to the evolution of fostering behaviour), then eitherbehaviour), then either

Fostering behaviour does not have a cost Fostering behaviour does not have a cost associated with it and ultimate explanation associated with it and ultimate explanation incorrect), orincorrect), or

There is a proximate explanation for There is a proximate explanation for fostering behaviour (maternal error, poor fostering behaviour (maternal error, poor pup recognition, etc.) pup recognition, etc.)

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Questions/Comments?Questions/Comments?