Observing Animals And Documenting Specific Animal Behavior Patterns

invention The broader context of this lab was aimed at observing animals and documenting specific animal expression patterns. Specifically, we were trying to determine if squirrels apply snake whittle randomly to certain beas of their body or if in that location was a specific technique to it in relation to escaping their predators. afterward an animal has determined that a predator is nearby, it must whence sway action to avoid encountering this threat.Encounters are most easily avoided by preventing predators from notice prey in the first instance (Rosier & Langklide, 2011), for squirrels this type of behavior is know as SSA, snake odour employment. In this lab we cherished to study two different species of squirrels, S. beecheyi and S. variegatus, in order to evaluate if SSA substructure be deemed as a species specific type of behavior. My meditation was that squirrels applied the snake skin scent to specific segmentations of their body in an organized manner. The null hypothesis is that squirrels apply the snake skin scent randomly to parts of their body.My prediction of my hypothesis was that squirrels apply the snake skin scent to body parts that they find prove to be advantageous when trying to escape their predators. Methods We watched videos of both species S. beecheyi and S. variegatus applying the SSA to their bodies. We were allowed to choose four videos from individually species. separately video showed a squirrel applying the snake skin to their body within their give birth natural habitat. Some videos had to a greater extent squirrels while others showed just one respective(prenominal) squirrel.In this lab we were given a table where we had to record how many clock SSA was applied to a specific part (flank, head, front leg, hind leg, tail) of the squirrels body. My partner and I chose to assign one person to tally the frequencies to all(prenominal) part of the body while the other watched the video and detect the applicatio n. I chose to do the observing, while my partner recorded. Every time a squirrel appeared to be licking or touching a certain body part was considered a tallied frequency, however, the squirrel had to be doing so for at least three seconds in order to be recorded.Results The table below (Table 1) shows the recording of the total frequencies that were tallied after seeing the squirrels apply the SSA to the respective specific body part. I include the total data in order to clearly show what I aimd for my calculations. In order to interpret our results we had to use the chi-squared test. This test compares the observed behaviors to the expected behavior if it was randomly distributed, also considered to be the null hypothesis where SSA is applied randomly on the squirrels body.From using the chi-squared equation (shown to the right), I calculated the expected frequency for each species, 12. 6 per area for the S. beecheyi and 10 per area for the S. Variegatus. The chi-squared values f or both the S. beecheyi and S. variegatus were 70. 13 and 65, respectively. For this lab experiment thither were 5 independent pieces of data, therefore 4 degrees of freedom. Given that piece of teaching we were able to look up the critical values at a confidence of 0. 05 and 0. 01, which were 9. 488 and 13. 277, respectively.The chi-squared value for both species exceeds these values and therefore we can egest our null hypothesis that states SSA is applied randomly. Discussion Although we were able to accept our hypothesis, there is always room for improvement. The process of observing the squirrels and recording the amount of multiplication SSA was applied may take greatly affected the results if not do properly. It was important to determine if the squirrels were in fact applying the SSA, this turn up to be punishing during the experiment.In addition, determining whether it was flank or hind leg also proved to be difficult. Since we were able to reject our null hypothesis, we were able to accept our hypothesis that SSA is applied non randomly. The values that we derived from the chi-squared test helped support our hypothesis we can then conclude that squirrels have a specific technique and process when applying snakeskin to their body. As I predicted these areas that they are constantly applying the snake skin scent proves to have a certain preference to them.We can imply that their preference is found on the idea that certain body parts are more vulnerable or do a great job at masking their scent, therefore hiding well from their snake predators. This is something that has evolved over time, snake-scent application is likely a product of natural selection. Squirrels that had the genetic instinct to use the ploy might have had increased survival and reproductive success, then passing the trait to following generations (Goudarzi, 2007). I think it would be sincerely interesting to look at different age groups within the squirrel population and thei r application process.This can help us find out whether squirrels at different stages in their life (young and old) find themselves to be more or less vulnerable and hence apply a lot or little of the SSA to specific areas of their body. It is also important to study different species of the squirrel population. I believe that different environments lend to different processes and techniques. If given the opportunity, I would do research on at least 8 more species that are completely different in their geographical regions and environment (dry vs moist areas) to each other.