Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field, second edition provides a comprehensive manual on animal behaviour lab activities. This new edition brings together basic research and methods, presenting applications and problem-solving techniques. It provides all the details to successfully run designed activities while also offering flexibility and ease in setup. The exercises in this volume address animal behaviour at all levels, describing behaviour, theory, application and communication. Each lab provides details on how to successfully run the activity while also offering flexibility to instructors. This is an important resource for students educators, researchers and practitioners who want to explore and study animal behaviour.
The field of animal behaviour has changed dramatically in the past 15 – 20 years, including a greater use and availability of technology and statistical analysis. In addition, animal behaviour has taken on a more applied role in the last decade, with a greater emphasis on conservation and applied behaviour, hence the necessity for new resources on the topic.
Part I: Describing Behavior
1. Writing Ethograms
2. Observation and Inference
3. Basic Methods of Observational Research
4. Developing Hypotheses
Part II: Theory of Behavior
5. Evolution
6. Sensory Systems
7. Learning
8. Communication
9. Altruism
10. Game Theory
11. Mechanisms
12. Development
Part III: Application of Behavior
13. Positive Reinforcement Training
14. Animal Welfare
15. Conservation Behavior
16. Enrichment
17. Comparative Cognition
Part IV: Communicating Science
18. Reading Scientific Literature
19. IACUC and Similar Applications
20. Writing for the Public
21. Writing for Scientific Publications
22. Appendices
23. Tools for Observation and Data Collection
24. Basic Statistics for Behavior
25. Citations in Science
Heather Zimbler-DeLorenzo is currently an Associate Professor of Biology at Georgia State University Perimeter College. She received her PhD in Biological Sciences from Auburn University. Dr Zimbler-DeLorenzo has been a member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) since 2004 and held the position as Chair of the Education Committee for ABS from 2018 to 2020.
Susan Margulis is currently a Professor and Department Chair of Animal Behavior, Ecology, Conservation, and Biology at Canisius College. Dr Margulis received her PhD from the University of Chicago in Evolutionary Biology, presenting her thesis on the effects of inbreeding on parental behaviour and reproductive success in two subspecies of the oldfield mouse. She has been a member of the Animal Behavior Society since 1980, and also serves as a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Animal Behavior Society Education Committee, EthoSource, and as a research advisor for the Gibbon Species Survival Plan.