A Study ofA Study ofGerbil Gerbil

BehaviorBehavior

By: Xxxxx, Xxxx and Yyyy, By: Xxxxx, Xxxx and Yyyy, YyyyyyYyyyyy Class:726Class:726

IntroductionIntroduction

Hello our names are Xxxxx Xxxxx Hello our names are Xxxxx Xxxxx and Yyyyy Yyyyy. We are in class and Yyyyy Yyyyy. We are in class 726. We choose this topic 726. We choose this topic because we wanted to know what because we wanted to know what gerbils do with their time. gerbils do with their time.

HypothesisHypothesis

The hypothesis that a male The hypothesis that a male gerbil will sleep for 40% of its gerbil will sleep for 40% of its time. This estimation is based time. This estimation is based upon research found on upon research found on www.gerbilbehavior.comwww.gerbilbehavior.com

What We Decided to What We Decided to DoDo We decided to do an ethogram We decided to do an ethogram

because we wanted to observe an because we wanted to observe an gerbil in its habitat. An ethogram is gerbil in its habitat. An ethogram is a paper divided into 15 second a paper divided into 15 second intervals within 20 minutes. During intervals within 20 minutes. During the process of an ethogram every the process of an ethogram every single thing that the animal does is single thing that the animal does is recorded into your observation.recorded into your observation.

MaterialsMaterials

1) A gerbil1) A gerbil 2) Pen/Pencil2) Pen/Pencil 3) Loose leaf Paper3) Loose leaf Paper 4) A stopwatch4) A stopwatch 5) A calculator 5) A calculator

Procedure Procedure

1) A topic was chosen along with an 1) A topic was chosen along with an animal.animal.

2) A pen was taken out.2) A pen was taken out. 3) Paper was set up for an ethogram 3) Paper was set up for an ethogram

divided into 15 second interval.divided into 15 second interval. 4) Stopwatch was set.4) Stopwatch was set. 5) Observation of animal was done. 5) Observation of animal was done. 6) Bar graph’s and Pie charts were 6) Bar graph’s and Pie charts were

plotted based upon the data.plotted based upon the data.

ResultsResults

The total observation number The total observation number was 350 observations. The was 350 observations. The hypothesis was that the male hypothesis was that the male gerbil would sleep 40% of its gerbil would sleep 40% of its time. The results came out to be time. The results came out to be that the male gerbil slept for that the male gerbil slept for 45.5% of its time. So our 45.5% of its time. So our hypothesis was incorrect.hypothesis was incorrect.

Data TableData Table

Activity ObservedActivity Observed Number of times ObservedNumber of times Observed

SleepingSleeping 159159

Eating Eating 3232

In WheelIn Wheel 22

In HouseIn House 1414

SniffingSniffing 55

Came outCame out 44

Biting WheelBiting Wheel 2424

Scratching WheelScratching Wheel 11

JumpedJumped 22

Teeth on WheelTeeth on Wheel 11

ScratchingScratching 22

Jumped on HouseJumped on House 33

DiggingDigging 88

Biting PoleBiting Pole 44

Scratching GlassScratching Glass 2323

Lifting HouseLifting House 22

Auto GroomingAuto Grooming 1313

StandingStanding 4040

StoppedStopped 88

RunningRunning 55

MissedMissed 22

Total Number of Activities Total Number of Activities ObservedObserved 350350

A Study of Gerbil Behavior during a 1 hour and 27 minute time period.

159

32

2 5 4 1 2 1 2 3 8 4

23

213

40

8 5 214

24

05

101520253035404550556065707580859095

100105110115120125130135140145150155160165170

Activities ObservedNum

ber

of Act

ivit

ies

done

by a

mal

e ger

bil

Sleeping Eating In Wheel In HouseSniffing Came Out Bitting Wheel Scratching WheelJumped Teeth on Wheel Scratching Wheel Jumped on HouseDigging Bitting Pole Scratching Glass Lifting HouseAuto-Grooming Standing Stopped RunningMissed

A Study of Gerbil Behavior during

a 1 hour and 27 minute time period.45.50

0.10

0.05

0.02

1.20

6.00

0.20

0.50

0.20

1.20

0.80

2.20

1.20

6.60

0.50

3.90

11.50

2.20 1.500.500.50

Sleeping Eating In House SnifingCameout Biting Wheel Scratching Wheel JumpedTeeth on wheel Scratching Jumped on House DiggingBiting Pole Scratching Glass Lifting House Auto GroomingStanding Stopped Running MissedIn Wheel

AnalysisAnalysis

As you can see in the graph sleeping As you can see in the graph sleeping was 159 out of 350. So the percent of was 159 out of 350. So the percent of this is 45.5%. Other high percentages this is 45.5%. Other high percentages were Standing with 11.5 % and eating were Standing with 11.5 % and eating with 10 %. So as you can see it slept with 10 %. So as you can see it slept 45.5% of the time and stood 11.5% 45.5% of the time and stood 11.5% which means that it slept almost 4 which means that it slept almost 4 times more than it stood.times more than it stood.

ConclusionConclusion

The results did not match the The results did not match the hypothesis for the project. The hypothesis for the project. The hypothesis was that the male gerbil hypothesis was that the male gerbil would sleep 40% of its time. After would sleep 40% of its time. After the calculations were made the the calculations were made the hypothesis was proven wrong. The hypothesis was proven wrong. The results came out to be that the results came out to be that the male slept for 45.5% of its time.male slept for 45.5% of its time.