Mark Elgar

Animal
Behaviour
Correlation, experimentation
and comparison
1
Outline
How do researchers make
discoveries about animal
behaviour?
Natural variation
Experiments
Comparisons between
species
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Why do animals forage in groups?
3
Predator vigilance
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Probability of predator detection
increases with group size
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Predator vigilance
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Rate of scanning declines with
increasing group size
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Predator vigilance
Use natural variation in ock size to
measure differences in scanning rate
Flock size
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2 4 6 8 10 13 18 23 28 33 50
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Studies of group foraging
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The dilution effect
Probability = 1
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The dilution effect
Probability = 1 Probability = 1/2
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The dilution effect
Probability = 1 Probability = 1/2 Probability = 1/3
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The dilution effect
Probability = 1 Probability = 1/2 Probability = 1/3 Probability = 1/10
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The dilution effect
Individuals may invest less in scanning when
risk of predation is lower
Are individuals changing their scanning
rate due to the Dilution Effect, the
detection of predators or both?
?
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Patchy distributions
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Experimental approaches
Feeder
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Feeder
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Feeder
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Feeder
4
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Experimental approaches
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Negative correlation between
scanning rate and ock size
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Selsh Herd Effect
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Experimental approaches
L
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VS
Square
feeder
Spotted turtle dove
Spilopelia chinensis
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Experimental approaches
Birds reduced scanning
rate with increasing
group size
Scanning rate was also
lower at the square
feeder
Results:
Spotted turtle dove
Spilopelia chinensis
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Do all birds forage in groups?
Large group size may lower
predation risk, but also means
increased competition for food
Predicition:
Foraging in groups less
common in populations or
species where predation risk is
low or non-existent
15
Comparative analyses
Comparison of island versus
mainland species of birds
Island species typically have
smaller ock sizes than
mainland species
Island Mainland
Mean ock
size
Maximum
ock size
Smaller Larger
Smaller Larger
16
Ways of studying behavior (relying on natural
variation; eld experiments; inter-specic
comparative analyses
Summary
Experiments reveal that individuals can
reduce the risk of predation by foraging in
groups, although comparative analyses
suggest that other factors may promote
group foraging.
17
!"#$%&'(
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_MC_2381 peacock splder MaraLus volans by !urgen Cuo (hup://www.lckr.com/phoLos/39431731[n03/3321738809/). 8eproduced wlLh permlsslon from !urgen Cuo.
)*"+, /
a) "8lson herd - Lake Audy - 8ldlng MounLaln nauonal ark" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3A8lson_herd_-_Lake_Audy_-_8ldlng_MounLaln_nauonal_ark.!C) by norm Andrelw (CC 8? 3.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
b) "Shoreblrds 01" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3AShoreblrds_01.[pg) by lngrld 1aylar (CC 8? 2.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
c) "SLarsh orgy (SuchasLer ausLralls)" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3ASLarsh_orgy_28SuchasLer_ausLralls29.[pg) by "Avenue" (CC 8?-SA 3.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
d) "Casslopea [ellysh" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3ACasslopea_[ellysh.[pg) by !acopo WerLher [ubllc domaln], vla Wlklmedla Commons
e) "Red Fish at Papah"naumoku"kea Marine National Monument" (hup://en.m.wlklpedla.org/wlkl/llle:8ed_llsh_aL_apahC481naumokuC481kea.[pg) by uS llsh & Wlldllfe Servlce - aclc 8eglon (CC 8? 2.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
f) "WlldebeesL and lmpala drlnklng" (hup://www.lckr.com/phoLos/dkeaLs/6037863141) by uerek keaLs (CC 8? 2.0)
g) ladyblrds overwlnLerlng" (hup://www.lckr.com/phoLos/94832243[n00/4037249033) by seler+seler (CC 8? 2.0)
h) "nasua narlca (foraglng)" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3Anasua_narlca_28foraglng29.[pg) by Pans PlllewaerL (CC 8?-SA 3.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
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Craph by Mark Llgar
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llgure 2 from !"#$%& ()*%+#,-., volume 29. Mark A. Llgar & Carla Cauerall, llocklng and redaLor Suvelllance ln Pouse Sparrows: 1esL of An PypoLhesls, pages 868-872, 1981. 8eproduced wlLh permlsslon from Llsevler.
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a) "Lmperor pengulns" (hup://en.wlklpedla.org/wlkl/llle:Lmperor_pengulns.[pg) by "nSl/!osh Landls" [ubllc domaln], vla Wlklmedla Commons
b) "ueserLCrasslandWhlpLallLlzard Aspldoscellsunlparens36" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3AueserLCrasslandWhlpLallLlzard_Aspldoscellsunlparens36.[pg) by "LLshears" (CC 8?-SA 3.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
c) "8uuu? 1u8nS1CnL 8unnlnC ALCnC SAnl8LL 8LACP" (hup://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3A8uuu?_1u8nS1CnL_8unnlnC_ALCnC_SAnl8LL_8LACP.[pg) by eLer Wallack (CC 8?-SA 3.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
d) "SurlcaLa surlcaua -Auckland Zoo -group-8a" (hups://commons.wlklmedla.org/wlkl/llle3ASurlcaLa_surlcaua_-Auckland_Zoo_-group-8a.[pg) by Ashlelgh 1hompson (CC 8? 2.0), vla Wlklmedla Commons
e) "nuLmeg Mannlkln" (hup://www.lckr.com/phoLos/pazzanl/7304160732/) by "Mlke's 8lrds" (CC 8?-SA 2.0)
f) "ghosL-crab_w723_h476" (hup://www.publlc-domaln-lmage.com/fauna-anlmals-publlc-domaln-lmages-plcLures/crabs-and-lobsLers-publlc-domaln-lmages-plcLures/ghosL-crab.[pg.hLml) by Parrlson Ceorge, u.S llsh and Wlldllfe Servlce [ubllc domaln]
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8lrds by Mllly lormby unlverslLy of Melbourne
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a) 8lrds by Mllly lormby unlverslLy of Melbourne
b) Creen ?ellow CarLoon 8ug lnsecL (hup://plxabay.com/en/green-yellow-carLoon-bug-lnsecL-34373/) by nemo [ubllc uomaln] vla plxabay
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LxperlmenLal Approaches leeder ulagram by Mllly lormby unlverslLy of Melbourne
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Craph by Mark Llgar
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a) "1he lence Sluer" (hup://www.lckr.com/phoLos/ausslegall/608231623/) by Loulse uocker (CC 8? 2.0)
b) 'Square feeder vs long feeder' by Mllly lormby unlverslLy of Melbourne
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llock slze vs vlgllance graph by Mark Llgar
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uaLa sourced from (8eauchamp, C.) 8educed ocklng by blrds on lslands wlLh relaxed predauon. /.,0))1#"234 (#,&,2#0%& 50#)"0)3, vol 271. no. 1343 (2004), pp. 1039 - 1042. 1he 8oyal SocleLy.
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