Prerequisite: An Animal Behavior course, e.g.,. APY 246, APY 344, PSY 443, PSY 434 or BIO 444. This applies only to undergraduates.
Dr. Berman APY 443/547
Office Hrs.: Th 1-3 Class Time: Th 3:00-5:40
Spaulding, Room 165 Spring 2008
Classroom: 158 Spaulding
SYLLABUS: Ethology Practicum
Zoo Projects: Observational Studies of Animal Behavior.
This is a course for students who have had some exposure to animal behavior and who would like to learn in more depth how to go about observing animals in a scientific manner. Principles of animal behavior improve our understanding in many fields concerning both humans and nonhumans: social relationships, social evolution, social development, animal breeding, zoo management, and conservation.
In this course, you will learn both by doing and by reading and discussing. First, we will discuss how animal behaviorists do their work in the field, in captive groups, and in the laboratory. Then we will practice some of these techniques together. From this point onwards, the course will take place mostly at the zoo. With my help, you will design and carry out your own research at the zoo, analyze your data, present your findings to the class and write them up into a scientific paper.
This course fulfills the practicum requirement for undergraduate Anthropology majors, a core course requirement for master’s and Ph.D. students in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB) and is one of the approved electives for students earning a certificate in EEB.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE AND READING
DATE TOPIC READING
Jan. 17 Introduction to course Haslett, Ch. 1-2
Martin & Bateson, Ch. 1-3
Jan. 24 Lecture & discussion: Why Haslett, Ch. 8
observe animal behavior: Martin & Bateson, Ch. 4-6
How do we get started?
Jan 31 Lecture & discussion: How Haslett, Ch. 3-7
to ask a behavioral question.
How to answer it.
Feb. 7,14 Demonstrations & practice Martin & Bateson, Ch. 7-8
observation at Buffalo Zoo
and/or on video.
Feb. 21 Individual consultations.
thru Collect your data.
Mar. 13
Mar. 20 Lecture & discussion: How to
analyze your data & present Martin & Bateson, Ch. 9
it. How to make a Haslett, Ch. 9 - 11
professional presentation,
how to write a professional
scientific paper.
Mar. 27 Work on data analysis.
thru April 17 Individual consultations.
Apr. 24, exam week Student presentations
May 8 Final written project papers due
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:
Project:
Project topic and list of references due on Jan 31.
Full project description due Feb. 7.
Project presentation in class, Apr. 24, exam week
Full written project report due: End of exam week (May 8).
(Hand in an extra copy for the zoo.)
Exams: There may be some pop quizzes that will figure into your ‘lab’ work grade.
Grading: Grading will be based 50% on the final project report, 35% on the class presentation, and 15% on zoo "lab" work (quizzes, preliminary project work and how well the zoo facility is utilized).
Reading: The reading will be heavy for the first few weeks in order to help you get started on your project. Later in the semester, it will be light. If you don’t do it,
l. Observational Research in Animal Behavior: A Student Guide by Gail W. Haslett. This is an unpublished "how to do it" book on student projects in animal behavior in zoos. It is a clearly and pleasantly written guide for the type of project you will do in this course. I think you will find it a great help throughout all stages.
2. Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide, 2ND Edition by Paul Martin and Patrick Bateson. This is a broader and more advanced guide to methods used in studying animal behavior. It is written in a casual but serious manner. We will use it to discuss not only the observational methods you will be using but also methods used in the laboratory. It is not meant to be used as a guide for your projects in the same sense as Haslett's book because it often requires a fairly advanced knowledge of behavior, sophisticated equipment, and/or experimentation. It should be used to broaden your knowledge of methods and to gain an understanding of how behavior can be best understood when complementary methods are used.
The Project
Each student will do a project that involves the systematic observation of social behavior in animals, preferably at the zoo. If you have strong reasons for wanting to work on animals elsewhere (e.g. parks, reserves, backyards) please see me. The Buffalo Zoo welcomes these projects and all students will be admitted free all during the semester*. In return, the zoo asks for a copy of the final report. They find the information gathered by students very helpful since they do not have enough staff to gather it all themselves.
Each student will generate a question to ask about the animals they observe that involves a quantitative comparison between animals or between different behaviors. All students will need to explain why the question is interesting to them. In addition, graduate students will need to justify the question in terms of current theories or conceptual issues within the scientific literature, and discuss the results of their study in relation to those theories or concepts.
The hardest part of the project is getting started--picking the animals to be watched, choosing a question to be asked, and finding ways to answer that question with reliable data. There is a great temptation to put off all these decisions until late in the semester, but this usually results in a rushed and sloppy job. Also, the project may only begin to become fun when time runs out. Please begin work on it as soon as possible.
*I will arrange for all students who are registered for this course on the first day of class to be admitted to the zoo free from the beginning of the semester. Give your name to the person at the service gate and tell them you are doing a project for my class, and that your admission has been arranged through the General Curator, Jerry Aquilina. If you register for the class after the first day, I will not be able to make arrangements until about two weeks into the semester. After two weeks, I will ask you to turn in a schedule for your visits to the zoo. The zoo will need this to know when to have someone available to let you into restricted areas, if necessary. It is very important that you stick to this schedule. If you can’t make it occasionally and need to schedule an extra visit, you will need to call ahead to let the zoo know. This is essential if we are going to continue to have a good relationship with the zoo.
In order to help you get started, I will give you a list of the more promising exhibits to work with at the zoo and demonstrate methods of observation at the zoo. Then, each student will have a chance to practice these techniques and to evaluate the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. We will also discuss how professional references on your subject are found at the University libraries, and how to pick the "right" questions to ask about your animal.
Most students who are not put off by the initial difficulties of the project find it fun and rewarding by the end. I hope you will too.
The project is due in stages to encourage you to start on it early and to come to me with your ideas and/or problems.
1. As soon as classes begin, read the first two chapters of the Haslett Guide* and the first three chapters of Martin & Bateson.* Begin to think about a topic and an animal. Visit the zoo to get acquainted with the exhibits.
2. By Jan. 31st, the project topic and a working list of references on the topic are due. At this point, or earlier, I can make suggestions about the suitability of the topic, appropriate methods, and further references. I must approve the topic and the reference list before you can go ahead with the project.
3. By Feb. 7th, a full project description is due. This should be a 2-3 page account of what you plan to do. Introduce the topic in a paragraph or two, citing references from the literature to explain why the topic is interesting scientifically. Then list what specific behavioral questions you plan to answer. Then go on to describe your methods. What specific behaviors will you observe? Define each one. Which individual animals will you observe? What specific time-sampling methods will you use to record each behavior? When and how often will you observe? What do you expect to find? End with a revised and expanded list of references. Again, this will give me an opportunity to help at the early stages of the project. I must also approve the description before you can go ahead.
4. On April 24th and on two days during exam week, we will have student presentations.
5. On May 8th, the full project report is due. This should be written in the format and style of a professional scientific paper. Use the handbook for guidance. I will also go over this in class. One of the goals of this class is to learn this style of writing, so if you don’t follow the guidelines in the handbook, your grade will reflect this.
Good luck and good fun!!!
* Both readings will be provided to you.