1. The Scientific Method and Levels of Analysis in Animal Behavior ZOL 313 May 14, 2008

2. The Scientific Method and Levels of Analysis in Animal Behavior ZOL 313 May 14, 2008 Lecture Objectives: 1.Understand the scientific method and be able to identify and generate hypotheses and predictions. 2.Distinguish between proximate and ultimate questions in the study of animal behavior and be able to generate both types of questions. 3.Understand the four levels of analysis of animal behavior and distinguish between questions at different levels.

3. Scientific Method 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

4. Scientific Method

5. Observation: Question: Hypothesis: Prediction: Testing Hypotheses: Beewolf nest locating

6. Testing Hypotheses: Gull eggshell removal Observation: Question: Hypothesis: Prediction: Distance from eggshell to nest (cm) Percentage of eggs eaten 1542% 10032% 20021%

7. Testing Hypotheses Activity Hypotheses to explain infanticide in langurs after a new adult male takeover: 1. 2. 3.

8. Hypotheses CannibalismSocial Pathology Quicker ReproductionPrediction Males will kill infants. Males will eat infants. Infanticide only occurs when population density is high. Males do not kill their own babies. Females whose babies are killed soon give birth to babies sired by the infanticidal male. Other organisms with similar social structures also have infanticide after a new male takes over. Activity: Which of the predictions listed on the right would support each of these alternative hypotheses for infanticide in langurs?

9. Activity: asking questions in animal behavior

10. Ultimate vs. Proximate Questions Proximate Questions: Ultimate Questions: What kind of question were we asking about the beewolfs? The black headed gulls? The langurs?

11. 4 Levels of Analysis in Animal Behavior 1.Physiological mechanisms 2.Ontogenetic mechanisms 3. Fitness consequences 4. Evolutionary origins

12. Prairie voles are monogamous. Most other mammals are polygynous. Why are prairie voles monogamous? Levels of Analysis Example

13. 1. Physiological mechanisms Pallium: Vasopressin: V1-a receptors: Why are prairie voles monogamous?

14. 2. Ontogenetic processes V1ar gene: Experiment:

15. Why are prairie voles monogamous? 3. Fitness consequences Experiment:

16. Why are prairie voles monogamous? 4. Evolutionary origins