the observational method and reproductive energetics of chimpanzees research question: do pregnant...
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The observational method and reproductive energetics of chimpanzees
• Research question: Do pregnant and lactating chimpanzees alter their feeding behavior to compensate for the increased energy demands of reproduction? (Murray et al. 2009)
• Hypothesis: Pregnant and lactating females will consume a diet that provides higher caloric intake than will nonpregnant, nonlactating females
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Featured Research
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
The observational method and reproductive energetics of chimpanzees
• Methods:– Chimpanzees (Pan trogolodytes)– Classified adult females into three
categories: pregnant (back-calculated from birth dates of offspring), lactating, or nonpregnant and nonlactating
– Recorded the feeding behavior (types of foods eaten) of these females
Featured Research
The observational method and reproductive energetics of chimpanzees
• Results:– Females differ in the
amount of fruit in their diet
• Conclusion:– Female chimpanzees
appear to alter their diet to include more high- calorie fruit when pregnant and lactating to increase their caloric intake
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Featured Research
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Featured Research
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Tinbergen’s four questions:
• Proximate questions about behavior–What mechanism caused the behavior?– How does the behavior develop?
• Ultimate questions about behavior–What is the function of the behavior?– How did the behavior evolve?
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
Interdisciplinary approaches
• Evolutionary psychology– Seeks to understand human thinking and
behavior and assumes that natural selection has shaped brain architecture and thought processes in an adaptive manner
• Cognitive ethology – Seeks to understand how natural selection acts
on mental processes and cognition
• Behavioral ecology– Focuses on the ecology and evolution of
behavior and its fitness consequences
From Nordell and Valone, Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications, © 2014 by Oxford University Press
The three Rs
• Replacement– Encourages use of computer modeling,
videotapes, or other approaches in place of actual research on animals in the laboratory
• Reduction– Promotes limiting the number of animals
subject to disturbance in research or teaching
• Refinement– Involves improving procedures and techniques
to minimize pain and stress for animals