Animal Behaviour: Raoul Mulder

Animal Behaviour Raoul Mulder

Tools for studying Animal Behaviour 1

Problematic behaviours Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed: - by individuals we can’t easily distinguish

VS

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Problematic behaviours Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed: - by individuals we can’t easily distinguish - in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical)

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Problematic behaviours Laysan albatross

Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed: - by individuals we can’t easily distinguish

...in the air

Marsupial mole

- in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical) - in places where we can’t easily follow

...underground

Sea turtle

...underwater

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Problematic behaviours Many aspects of behaviour are difficult for us to observe because they are performed: - by individuals we can’t easily distinguish - in channels outside our sensory capabilities (e.g. ultrasound, ultraviolet light, chemical)

Starling murmuration

- in places where we can’t easily follow - at speeds or scales we can’t absorb

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Distinguishing individuals Individual IDs on neck collars

Individual IDs on stickers

Unique ear tag combinations & radio collars Coloured leg bands Internal PIT-tags 3

Measuring ‘invisible’ animal signals Technological innovations allow us to ‘eavesdrop’ on animal communication in channels beyond our sensory abilities We measure colours using spectrometers ... Sound using sophisticated recorders ... Chemical signals using GC-MS ...

Peaks show different compounds

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Measuring ‘invisible’ animal signals Example: budgerigar Without sunblock F+

With sunblock F-

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Test bird

Experimental set-up

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Proportion of time spent in front of

0.4

0.4

female

male

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0

0

Fluoro+

Fluoro-

Fluoro+

Fluoro-

Experimental treatment of stimulus bird

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Tracking animal movements Daily or seasonal movements of animals can be tracked with hi-tech devices Camera ‘traps’ Radiotelemetry GPS devices ‘Biologging’ vs ‘biotelemetry’

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Slowing down the action High-speed video technology allows us to slow down the action so that we can make sense of what is happening

Example: Spearing mantis shrimp

Video can be innovatively coupled with other technologies to provide new insights Check out the Patek Lab for more high-speed videos: http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/pateklab/video

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Measuring fitness outcomes We are often interested in the fitness outcomes (e.g. number of offspring produced), but these are not always easily measured Example 1: black-headed gull

DNA fingerprinting used to measure extra-pair paternity in black-headed gulls: - 20% of all chicks resulted from extra-pair matings - 9% of all chicks resulted from egg-dumping Black-headed Gull

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Relationships and interactions With policemen

Estimating relatedness using genetic tools Understanding relationships and interactions through social networks Example: Pig-tailed macaques

Without policemen

Grooming

Play

Conflict management done by ‘policer’ males

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New frontier: ‘reality mining’ Collection and analysis of behavioural interactions, using technology High-resolution 3D positional telemetry used to track pike in lake basin Internal PIT-tags inserted in fish; detected by hydrophones in the lake.

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Summary Technology is changing the way we study many aspects of animal behaviour We have diverse tools to identify individuals, record behaviour, and track movements and interactions ‘Reality mining’ - simultaneous monitoring of all interactions between many different animals will become more commonplace

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