ANT101 Lecture 8 Primate Behaviour and Sampling Methods

UTM

What is DOMINANCE?

Agonistic behavior is expressed via Aggressive and Submissive signals

Affliative

Ethogram

Ethology = the study of animal behavior

: a detailed, comprehensive list of the known behaviors and activities of a species

Agonism?

Aggression: bites, chase

Soft Interactions: Facial threats, approach or withdrawal.

Focal Animal Sampling?

Gathering behavioral data on

• One particular animal

• At a specific point in time

• For a period on time

• What it does

• What is done to it

EG: Rest, travel, feed, social, other.

• It needs to be detailed

Instantaneous Scan Sampling

Also called “scan sampling”, “interval sampling” or “point sampling” • The observer takes an instantaneous look at the entire group, and records certain types of data at particular points in time

• Like taking a brain snap shot of what everyone is doing at that specific time

• Bad for recording event behaviours

• Bad for recording rates

• The group is known not individuals and it can impact data

• Good for recording state behaviours.

• Good for recording behavioural synchrony

• Less observer fatigue

Summarize the topic

Signals of dominant/subordinate status?

Bared-teeth display •Mounting •Open-mouthed stare

• Vocalizations

• Greetings

How is dominance measured?

Outcome of agonistic interactions –decided (clear “winner” or “loser”) –undecided (cannot tell who is dominant)

How is dominance communicated?

• Presentations (deference a submissive behavior)

• Displacement (sub plant)

Benefits of dominance ?

High rank = Higher mating chances

Priority access to resources

How do individuals attain dominance?

Challenge other dominant animals

Leave one group and enter another for higher rank

Can inherit rank

Disadvantages of Focal Animal Sampling

• Not possible to record every possible behavior

• Exact time of activity and the duration of the activity is hard to track

• it records only one animal