Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology

Animal Behavior Observations

Each student will be responsible for making a series of observations of the natural history and behavior of a set of local animal species. This assignment is described in detail below. The purposes of this exercise are a) to give you some practice in identifying animals, b) to give you some practice at being observant, c) to acquaint you with field biology, d) to give you some knowledge of the role of animals in their ecological communities, and e) to give you an opportunity to apply the conceptual material of this course to actual organisms. You will make observations on at least four individuals (or groups, in the case of social animals) of each of three species of animals. The three species must comprise at least two phyla (you can't use only vertebrates). Each set of observations will consist of the following elements:
 

• species identification: This may consist of a formal scientific name (for instance Sciurus niger, the fox squirrel that is common on campus), a formally recognized common name (usually birds, for instance the Northern Mockingbird), or a colloquial common name for species that don't have formal common names and that are difficult to identify to species (for instance mud daubers or bumblebees).

• pertinent morphology:  The design or adaptation of the body and its parts for existence in the microhabitat where you observed the animal. This will include appendages for locomotion or for manipulating food, "trophic structures" such as bills, teeth, and mandibles, which give clues to food preferences and feeding behavior, sensory structures which are used to detect predators, prey, and conspecifics, and color patterns which give clues about predator defenses and communication.

• species identification and pertinent morphology will be a single description that applies to your behavioral observations for a particular species. You don't have to include these elements with each observation, but begin a series of observations with the species identification and pertinent morphology.

• date, time, locality:  When and where the observations were made, as specifically as possible.  Locality information might be "Austin College campus, Sherman, Grayson Co. TX", "Red River, 0.5 km below Denison Dam, Bryan Co. OK", or "East oil pads, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Texoma, Grayson Co. TX". Each observation should begin with this element.

• general habitat type: In what biome or vegetational district was the observation made? Habitat type makes reference to  such things "deciduous forest", "grassland", "savanna", "disturbed roadside", "cultivated field", "urban lawn", etc. Include some information about dominant plant species, especially ones that affect your animals and your observations. I can help you identify common local plants.

• microhabitat: This means where specifically within the larger habitat you saw the animal (shady patch under a pecan tree, Monarda flowers, moist soil under leaf litter, trunk of oak tree, etc.). Many animals are microhabitat specialists, and are adapted morphologically and behaviorally for a particular microhabitat.

• behavior: Behavior consists of anything the animal is doing. This will be the most detailed element of your observations. Your behavioral observations should include any vocal or visual displays, method of locomotion and movement patterns, food-gathering behavior and food preferences, vigilance or other anti-predator behavior, and social behavior such as courtship and mating, group foraging, or colonial behavior.

To accomplish this assignment, it will be necessary for you to find four species that you can consistently locate, and you will need some type of notebook that can be carried in the field. I will provide an example of an observation, so that you can see what I expect, and I will lead some field excursions (to be scheduled later), which will be opportunities for us to make observations together. You may (and actually should) work together in small groups to locate animals and make observations, but you must record your own observations in your own words, and your interpretations (see below) must be your own thoughts based on your own observations. You will have access to a variety of types of field equipment, such as binoculars and dial calipers, but I do not expect your observations to be equipment intensive. I will make available field guides to a variety of animal groups, and will assist you in identifying any particular study animal that you find.

I expect you to make a series of systematic observations, in which you build on the knowledge gained to make more detailed observations. It is insufficient to simply say four times in a row "saw bumblebee feeding on flowers; same behavior as before". Each time you observe a bumblebee foraging you should notice something different. What is the pattern of movement between flowers? Do they visit a flower more than once? How long do they spend at each flower?  How long do they spend foraging before returning to the hive?  It is possible and desirable for you to collect some rudimentary quantitative data on your study animals for instance timing how long a bumblebee spends at each of a series of flowers, then reporting the average and sample size). In general, each observation should be more complete and detailed that the previous one.

Once you have made a series of observations on a particular species, the next step is to interpret what you have seen. My expectation is that you will apply the concepts that we discuss in this course to an understanding of the biology of the animals you observe. A brief discussion of the behavioral adaptations of the species to their abiotic, biotic, and social environments would constitute an appropriate interpretation. This will consist of no more than a couple of paragraphs, and should summarize your impressions of the animals based on your observations. The observations should be transcribed from your field notebooks onto computer disk, so that observations can be added as they are made, and hard copies can be printed. The observations and interpretive statements are due in a series of installments on 10 October, 31 October, and 14 November. I will provide an example of a set of observations and of an interpretive statement.

Observational Techniques: There are a variety of means by which you can locate and observe animals. It is not necessary to be in the "wilderness" to make worthwhile and interesting observations of animal behavior; in the past my study areas have included a strip of shrubs alongside a highway and a neighbor's backyard. There are numerous animal species that are active on the AC campus, and many more in public areas in Sherman and surrounding communities. Herman Baker park in southwest Sherman is a good location, as is the area below Denison Dam, about 20 minutes north of Sherman on US Hwy 75. The Sneed Environmental Research Area, owned by AC and located about 20 minutes west of Sherman near US Hwy 82, is also a good area. There are many other areas nearby if you need suggestions.

Once you are in a locality where you hope to make observations, you must next locate animals. It will be a good idea to concentrate on relatively large and/or conspicuous animals ? you have to be able to find them to observe them. The way to do this depends on what kind of animals you are looking for. If you are interested in birds, one good possibility is to observe from a vehicle (for instance at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge), because birds do not always recognize a vehicle as a threat, when they would a human. You may also walk slowly and cautiously through a particular habitat (open areas are easier to work in than are wooded areas), stopping to make observations when you encounter the species of interest. Many birds are habitat specialists, so can be predictably found once you know their habits. Wear drab clothing, as most birds respond to colors. Mammals are often difficult to observe, because most small mammals are nocturnal, and most large mammals are either very scarce or very spooky. The fox squirrels on campus are an obvious exception. There are some areas where it is possible to observe large mammals, such as the Wichita Mountains NWR in southwestern Oklahoma, for prairie dogs, bison, and possibly elk. Most reptiles are found only sporadically and unpredictably, so are difficult to observe systematically. Some amphibians are active in the fall, such as bullfrogs and leopard frogs, and may be found near aquatic habitats. Many species of insects will be available to you. Many butterflies, moths, beetles, and bees are attracted to plants in flower. A good procedure is to find a patch of flowering plant and stand nearby, where you can observe the activities of the six-legged visitors. It is possible to observe such animals quite closely, with minimal danger of being stung. You may also observe the predators (mostly spiders and other insects) of the flower visitors, but these will be less common. Other species, such as crickets, fireflies, and fire ants, have particular distributions or are active at particular times of day, so can be found with ease.

One goal of this exercise is to allow you to make more detailed observations as you become more familiar with the behavior of particular species. Your first attempts at observation may result in frustration, as behavior is often complex and unpredictable. Have patience. Look for patterns or regularities in behavior, and try to choose one particular type of behavior to concentrate on. I am not advising you to ignore all of the variation and complexity of animal behavior, but to practice making sense of what you see. You may need to spend some time watching before making your actual observations.

Animals that I encounter regularly at this time of year (some may be specific to particular habitats):