|
|
||
|
Practical course consisting of several tasks focused on various experimental designs, observational methods, animal subjects, and equipment. Descriptive versus experimental research; choice of subject; reconaissance observations; empirical versus functional descriptions of behaviour; behavioural repertoire, ethogram; classification of behavioural units; research hypotheses; experimental design; manipulation experiments; sampling methods; data-collection equipment; ethological software; statistical analysis of behavioural data, practical tasks including some classical experiments.
Please note, the lectures are given in Czech language. English version of the course can be requested in advance if there are at least 2 students. Last update: Exnerová Alice, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (05.10.2020)
|
|
||
|
Lehner P. N. 1996: Handbook of ethological methods. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. Dawkins M.S 2007: Observing Animal Behaviour. Design and Analysis of Quantitative Data. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Haccou P. & Meelis E. 1992: Statistical Analysis of Behavioural Data. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
Ploger B. J. & Yasukawa K. 2003: Exploring animal behavioor in laboratory and field. Academic Press. San Diego. Last update: Exnerová Alice, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (23.10.2019)
|
|
||
|
Praktikum je zakončeno zápočtem udělovaným na základě aktivní účasti a závěrečného vyhodnocení úloh. Last update: Exnerová Alice, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (05.10.2020)
|
|
||
|
Practical course consisting of several tasks focused on various methods of experimental designs, observational methods, animal subjects, and equipment. (1) Bioacustical analyses using BatSound and Avisoft; (2) Analysis of hierarchy in winter flock of tits; (3) Mate choice experiment in zebra finches; (4) Exploration in mice and birds; (5) Agonistic behaviour and mate choice in Betta splendens; (6) Space orientation in rats using elevated plus-maze; (7) Agonistic behaviour within group of cichlid fishes; (8) Agonistic behaviour of house-mice males in dyadic encounters; (9) Recognition and agonistic interaction in termites; (10) Food inovationa and social learning in great tits; (11) Sexual, agonistic and antipredatory behaviour in geckos; (12) Mate choice in Poecilia reticulata; (13) Reaction of great tits to aposematic prey; (14) Antipredatory (mobbing) behaviour of birds using dummies of predators; (15) Aggregation behaviour in cockroaches (16) Lag-sequential analysis. Last update: Exnerová Alice, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (05.10.2020)
|
|
||
|
After completing the course, students are able to formulate testable hypotheses in the field of behavioural studies. They can design adequate experimental designs for laboratory and field conditions, including the selection of appropriate control groups and manipulation methods. They are able to propose methods for classifying behaviour and formalizing the recording of behavioural data, and select an appropriate approach for a given research project. Students are able to compile a complete ethogram and behavioural repertoire of a selected animal species and apply various sampling methods (e.g., focal sampling, scan sampling) and recording methods (e.g., instantaneous sampling, continuous recording) depending on the nature of the behavioural elements being studied. They will be able to define and accurately classify behavioural elements to ensure objectivity and repeatability of measurements (e.g. inter-observer reliability). Furthermore, students will be able to work with specialized ethological software (e.g., The Observer, JWatcher, BORIS) for coding behaviour from video recordings or in real time, and use systems for automatic object tracking (e.g., EthoVision) and set parameters for motion detection and trajectory analysis. Students are able to analyse behavioural data using statistical methods specific to ethology (sequence analysis, time budgets, frequency of occurrences), interpret the results of the analyses in the context of the original hypotheses and critically evaluate possible sources of error or bias in the recording. They are also able to present the results of ethological observations in the form of a structured protocol or scientific report, including graphical representations of behaviour. Last update: Exnerová Alice, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (17.01.2026)
|