Observing Animal Behaviour

Understanding Animal Behaviour Observation

Animal behaviour observation involves systematically watching and recording the physical and interactive activity of animals.
Direct observation requires the observer to be physically present, whereas indirect observation can involve the use of tools like camera traps or tracking devices.
Quantitative observations involve recording numerical data such as frequency or duration of behaviours, while qualitative observations describe behaviours without using numerical measures.
Observations can be made in either a naturalistic setting (wildlife or free-roaming domestic animals) or a controlled setting (laboratory, zoo or other captive environment).

Observation Techniques

Ad libitum sampling is a non-systematic method where any behaviours of interest are noted down. This method is flexible, but may result in biased observations.
Focal animal sampling involves observing a single animal for a pre-determined period and recording all incidences of particular behaviours.
Scan sampling involves observing all members of a group at regular intervals and recording their behaviours at those moments.
Behaviour sampling focuses on recording occurrences of specific actions, regardless of which animals are exhibiting them.

Use of Ethograms

An ethogram is a catalogue or table of all the different types of behaviour exhibited by a species.
Ethograms are useful tools for organizing observational data and helping researchers standardize their descriptions of behaviours.
Ethograms typically include a description of the behaviour, the context in which it occurs, and its presumed function or goal.

Challenges in Observing Animal Behaviour

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to animals, and can lead to misinterpretations of animal behaviour.
There can be considerable individual variation within a species, making it necessary to observe multiple individuals to get an accurate picture of the species’ behaviours.
Observer effect refers to the potential for the observer’s presence to influence animal behaviour.
Habituation can be used to decrease the impact of the observer effect.

Importance of Recording and Interpreting Data

Meticulous data recording is essential in animal behaviour observation to draw valid conclusions about the animal’s behaviour.
Accurate observation and interpretation of animal behaviour can help in behaviour modification, awareness of health or welfare problems, and improvement of captivity conditions.