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Animal Behaviour Assignment
Abhishek Mishra (20101053) Himanshu Rajmane (20101017)
Nisarg Desai (20101030) Shailendra Kushwaha (20101049)
Animal of choice: Street Dogs (Canis familiaris) Methods: We carried out the observations on Street Dogs (Canis familiaris) living in IISER campus around New Hostel 1, New Hostel 2, Lab Buildings and HR-4. We carried out observations on 13 dogs: 2 adult males, 2 juvenile males, 2 sub-adult males, 1 sub-adult female, 4 adult females, and 2 juvenile females. To get started, we conducted ad libitum sampling of the dogs in campus for 8 days. Based on our observations we fixed the following time slots for focal sampling considering the activity level of the dogs and our convenience. Each individual was observed for at least 15 minutes.
• Evenings: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM • Nights 11:30 PM-12:30 AM
Data for such focal observations was recorded for 7 days. Our observations were completely non-invasive. Results:
(a) Ethogram
Category of Behavior
Behavior Code Description
Solitary Yawning Y Opening the mouth widely for a short period of time, and after inhaling, closing it
Sleeping Slp Lying down on any one side of the body with eyes closed. The head is also on the ground with the limbs on one side
Sitting 1 Si 1 Sitting with all four limbs bent
Sitting 2 Si 2 Sitting on the hind limbs with an uptight posture. The forelimbs are straight
Resting Re Sitting 1 but with the head on ground, lower throat touching the ground. Eyes may or may not be closed
Standing Std Maintaining an uptight position supported by the four limbs
Panting Pt Breathing with mouth open and tongue sticking out
Urinating U Discharging urine. Males with one hind limb lifted, and females in a posture with hind limbs bent and forelimbs straight
Defecating D Discharging feces with hind limbs bent and forelimbs straight
Walking W Moving from one place to another using the limbs, at a speed slower than running
Running R Using all four limbs, moving at a speed faster than walking
Stretching Str Stretching the forelimbs, the posterior of the body is at a higher level than the head
Biting B Using the teeth to grip something
Licking L Passing the tongue repeatedly over something
Rolling Rol Lying on the back and moving horizontally left and right with respect to body axis
Hopping H Jumping (forelimbs in the air, hind limbs on the ground -‐-‐> forelimbs on the ground, hind limbs in the air)
Following F Walking/running behind conspecifics or humans
Scratching Scr Using the paw nails to make scraping movement
Vocalizations Barking Brk Characteristic sound repeatedly produced in succession
Growling Gr Deep rumbling sound
Foraging and Feeding
Sniffing Snf Moving the snout close to an object and smelling
Eating Eat Consuming food by chewing and gulping
Drinking Drk Consuming water/liquid, repeatedly using tongue
Social Playing P Interacting with conspecifics which might involve combinations of biting, scratching, licking, rolling, hopping, following, growling, barking and tail wagging
Tail wagging
Tw Repeatedly moving the tail horizontally to left and right
Fighting Fi Aggressive conflict involving physical contact through biting, scratching and growling
The above ethogram is based on ad libitum as well as focal sampling. A sample data sheet for one individual for one time point is as follows. For the purposes of this report, we do not include the datasheets for all individuals. Observer Himanshu Date: 20/03/14
Time: 11.30 PM Name of
Individual Amma Sex Female
Description Adult female, white in colour with brown patches on belly, abdomen and face.
Time Behaviour Remarks 11:30 PM Si 1 Right 11:33 PM B Right Back 11:33 PM Scr Bottom, using left hind leg 11:34 PM W
11:35 PM Scr Bottom, using both hind legs 11:36 PM Scr Face, using left hind leg 11:37 PM Snf Garbage 11:39 PM Eat
11:42 PM Scr Bottom, using left hind leg 11:43 PM B Hind leg from the left side 11:44 PM W Slowly, pausing 11:46 PM Si 1 Left 11:47 PM Scr Body, using right hind leg 11:47 PM Si 2
11:48 PM P With NaMo (juvenile female) 11:49 PM Si 1 Right 11:50 PM Scr Bottom using left hind leg
(b) Time budget analysis Based on all the data obtained from focal sampling, we did a time-budget analysis for each individual dog separately and for all the dogs. The time-budget analysis for each individual is not included in this report. The combined time-budget analysis for all the dogs is presented below:
8% 10%
4%
4%
0% 7%
9%
4%
6% 11%
2%
22%
4% 3%
4%
3% 2%
Combined time budget analysis (all dogs) EVENINGS
B
Scr
R
F
H
Snf
Si 1
Si 2
P
Slp
Brk
W
Re
Eat
L
Str
Y
5% 10% 4%
5% 1%
5%
5%
4% 7% 17%
5%
18%
3% 5%
0% 2%
4%
Combined time budget analysis (all dogs) NIGHTS
B
Scr
R
F
H
Snf
Si 1
Si 2
P
Slp
Brk
W
Re
Eat
L
Str
Y
Hypothesis and Experiments: Our initial aim was to study barking behavior, but our observations indicate that very little time was spent on barking in natural conditions (4% in all). Therefore, it is difficult to study this behavior. However, we observed another interesting behavior with regard to social play. We observed juveniles from different mothers and opposite sex engage themselves in social play. Based on this observation, we propose the following hypotheses that may explain this behavior:
6% 10%
4%
4% 0%
6%
7%
4%
7% 14%
4%
20%
3% 4%
2% 2%
3%
Combined time budget analysis (all dogs) EVENINGS + NIGHTS
B
Scr
R
F
H
Snf
Si 1
Si 2
P
Slp
Brk
W
Re
Eat
L
Str
Y
Hypothesis 1: Juveniles of similar age group engage in social play. Hypothesis 2: Juveniles living in adjacent territories are more likely to engage in social play. Hypothesis 3: Juveniles from same father are more likely engage in social play. Hypothesis 4: Social play between opposite sex juveniles could be a premature form of sexual attraction. Hypotheses 1 and 2 are proximate, 3 and 4 are ultimate. The following experiments/observations can be carried out to test the above hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: (a) More observations can be carried out under different situations and the above hypothesis can be tested statistically. (b) As a manipulative experiment, individuals of different ages can be brought together, and statistical analysis for individuals engaging in social play can be carried out. Hypothesis 2: (a) More observations can be carried out under different situations and the above hypothesis can be tested statistically. (b) As a manipulative experiment, individuals from different territories can be brought together, and statistical analysis for individuals engaging in social play can be carried out. Hypothesis 3: Genetic analysis can be performed to trace the fathers of individuals engaging in social play. Hypothesis 4: It can be checked if opposite sex individuals engaging in social play are more likely to mate in future. Also, within sex and between sex social play incidences can be statistically compared i.e. if a male juvenile is more likely to engage in social play with a female juvenile and vice versa.
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