Predicting the Dynamics of Animal Behaviour in Field Populations

Shandelle M. Henson; Brian Dennis; James L. Hayward; J. M. Cushing; Joseph G. Galusha

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.11.015

Predicting the Dynamics of Animal Behaviour in Field Populations

Shandelle M. Henson
, Brian Dennis
, James L. Hayward
, J. M. Cushing
, Joseph G. Galusha

University of Idaho
The University of Arizona
Walla Walla University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Many species show considerable variation in behaviour among individuals. We show that some behaviours are largely deterministic and predictable with mathematical models. We propose a general differential equation model of behaviour in field populations and use the methodology to explain and predict the dynamics of sleep and colony attendance in seabirds as a function of environmental factors. Our model explained over half the variability in the data to which it was fitted, and it predicted the dynamics of an independent data set. Differential equation models may provide new approaches to the study of behaviour in animals and humans.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	103-110
Journal	Animal Behaviour
Volume	74
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.11.015
State	Published - Jul 2007

Keywords

colony occupancy
differential equation
dynamic modelling
glaucous-winged gull
habitat ecology
Larus glaucescens
mathematical modelling
sleep
territory attendance

Disciplines

Zoology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.11.015License: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Predicting the Dynamics of Animal Behaviour in Field Populations",

abstract = "Many species show considerable variation in behaviour among individuals. We show that some behaviours are largely deterministic and predictable with mathematical models. We propose a general differential equation model of behaviour in field populations and use the methodology to explain and predict the dynamics of sleep and colony attendance in seabirds as a function of environmental factors. Our model explained over half the variability in the data to which it was fitted, and it predicted the dynamics of an independent data set. Differential equation models may provide new approaches to the study of behaviour in animals and humans.",

keywords = "colony occupancy, differential equation, dynamic modelling, glaucous-winged gull, habitat ecology, Larus glaucescens, mathematical modelling, sleep, territory attendance",

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year = "2007",

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language = "American English",

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AU - Henson, Shandelle M.

AU - Dennis, Brian

AU - Hayward, James L.

AU - Cushing, J. M.

AU - Galusha, Joseph G.

PY - 2007/7

Y1 - 2007/7

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AB - Many species show considerable variation in behaviour among individuals. We show that some behaviours are largely deterministic and predictable with mathematical models. We propose a general differential equation model of behaviour in field populations and use the methodology to explain and predict the dynamics of sleep and colony attendance in seabirds as a function of environmental factors. Our model explained over half the variability in the data to which it was fitted, and it predicted the dynamics of an independent data set. Differential equation models may provide new approaches to the study of behaviour in animals and humans.

KW - colony occupancy

KW - differential equation

KW - dynamic modelling

KW - glaucous-winged gull

KW - habitat ecology

KW - Larus glaucescens

KW - mathematical modelling

KW - sleep

KW - territory attendance

UR - https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pubs/1755

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VL - 74

SP - 103

EP - 110

JO - Animal Behaviour

JF - Animal Behaviour

IS - 1

ER -

Predicting the Dynamics of Animal Behaviour in Field Populations

Abstract

Keywords

Disciplines

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