Dr Bill Budenberg of Tracksys Ltd (bill@tracksys.co.uk)

EthoVision is video tracking software developed by Noldus Information Technology (www.noldus.com) and distributed in the UK by TRACKSYS (www.tracksys.co.uk) The software tracks and analyses the behavior, movement, and activity of any animal

This hands-on training workshop will provide a full overview of how to use Noldus IT's EthoVision XT 8 video-tracking software. It is designed for students, new users or those in need of a refresher. Based around a series of video recordings made under different treatments, the "task" is to use EthoVision XT to find out how behavior differs under the different treatments.

Software will be available on PCs at Anglia Ruskin University but participants are welcome to bring their own licences and laptops.

Fabrizio Manco (Anglia Ruskin University) and Dr Susannah O'Hanlon (Anglia Ruskin University)

GIS (geographic information systems) can be used to capture, store, analyze, manage, and present data that are linked to location. GIS techniques in biology and applications in animal behaviour studies have increased consistently in the last few decades. The evolution of tracking devices and analytical algorithms and software allow collecting and processing large amounts of data with a far higher resolution than was possible 30 years ago. The increasing availability of geographically referenced data for environmental features and processes and human activities also improves the study of relationships between collected data and other variables.

During this workshop, different tracking technologies will be presented, compared and demonstrated to you. The application of these tools in animal behaviour studies and emerging possibilities as well as challenges will be discussed. You will have the opportunity to explore some datasets and study them through some GIS analysis. The session will include a description of spatial tools and hands-on use of GIS software.

This workshop will run in two parts. Part 1 can be taken on its own but those wishing to do Part 2 must also sign up to Part 1.

Part 1: The use of GIS to support Human-Dog-Environment interactions studies along a pathway
Part 2: Animal tracking techniques and GIS tools for habitat analysis

Dr Bill Budenberg of Tracksys Ltd (bill@tracksys.co.uk)

The Observer is event logging software developed by Noldus Information Technology (www.noldus.com) and distributed in the UK by TRACKSYS (www.tracksys.co.uk). The software can be used for the collection, analysis, and presentation of observational data.

This hands-on training workshop will provide a full overview of how to use Noldus IT's The Observer XT software, and is designed for students, new users or those in need of a refresher. It is based around a series of video recordings made under different treatments. The "task" is to use The Observer XT to find out what different behaviours are seen under the different treatments.

Software will be available on PCs at Anglia Ruskin University but participants are welcome to bring their own licences and laptops.

This workshop will not be running

Dr Alvin Helden, Anglia Ruskin University

R is a computer language for data analysis and graphics, which is being increasingly used in life sciences research. It is a freely available resource, which is constantly being updated and developed by statisticians worldwide and so is always at up to date. It can be used for the simplest to the most complex statistical analyses and is designed to produce high-quality graphics.

The aim of the workshop is to provide a basic introduction to R, to those unfamiliar with it. It will consist of an initial talk about R and how it works, then there will be a practical session in which you will be able to use R for some simple data analysis and graphics. It is hoped that it will encourage those attending to consider using R themselves and to enable them better understand the scientific literature in which R has been used.

Dr Matt Bristow, Anglia Ruskin University (matt.bristow@anglia.ac.uk)

Cortisol (hydrocortisone) is a steroid hormone, or glucocortoid, produced by the adrenal glands in vertebrates. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Recent advances in biochemical technologies now make the analysis of cortisol in saliva a straightforward procedure providing a simple, relatively non-invasive tool, for animal behaviour researchers to measure stress levels in their study subjects.

During this workshop participants will conduct a salivary cortisol assay using their own saliva.

Dr. Kathreen E. Ruckstuhl (University of Calgary, Alberta; currently University of Cambridge, UK)

Social network theory has been most often used for the study of human relationships and their consequences but there is increasing interest from behavioural ecologist in applying social network theory to animals. Social network analysis looks at social relationships, which consist of nodes and ties. Nodes are the individuals within the networks, and ties are their relationships with others within the network. Ties can be based on loose measures such as how often animals were seen within the same group, to specific data on affiliative or aggressive behaviour, coalition or grooming partners etc. Social networks operate on many levels, from pairs of individuals, families up to the whole population, and play a critical role in determining the way in which decisions are made, how information or disease flows through a network and the degree to which individuals are benefiting from close social ties.

The purpose of the social networks workshop is to introduce participants to social network theory and to get them familiar with some of the analytical and software tools used in social network research. We will in particular learn how to input association and interaction data, how to produce network matrices (using Socprog), and how to analyse, display and interpret those data (using UCINet and NetDraw).

Dr Vladimir Dyo (University Bedfordshire) and Bence Pasztor (University Cambridge)

Wireless sensor networks have attracted significant attention for a wide range of environmental monitoring and wildlife tracking applications. The tiny battery powered wireless devices can be attached to birds, mammals and the surrounding habitat for continuous non-intrusive monitoring and tracking with high spatial and temporal resolution.

The aim of the workshop is to introduce wireless sensor network technology, its capabilities, applications and current challenges to biology students and anyone interested in application of it to animal tracking and habitat monitoring. The workshop will consist of a tutorial on sensor networks followed by a hands-on session where students will have an opportunity to develop and test a simple wireless sensor network application.

Dr Tamsin O'Connell & Catherine Kneale (University of Cambridge)

The analysis of stable isotope ratios is a powerful technique with widespread applications in the natural sciences. Almost all elements including hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur exist naturally as different isotopes that are chemically identical but differ in the number of neutrons in the nuclei. Both physical properties of the molecules and preferential routing in biochemical processes can alter the ratios of the isotopes in a sample by a process known as fractionation. Measurement of the resulting ratios of the isotopes and comparison to a standard can then be used to provide information on the origin and life history of a sample.

Some examples of areas in which this technique has been used in animal behaviour are:

• feeding and foraging
• ranging and habitat use,
• migration routes

In this session we will be investigating how carbon and nitrogen isotope values can be used to study diet and considering the applications, strengths and pitfalls of this technique. There will be an introductory talk followed by the analysis and interpretation of some stable isotope data.

Agent-Based Modelling of Behaviour for the Complete Novice.

Dr Toby Carter, Anglia Ruskin University (toby.carter@anglia.ac.uk)

Ever felt that your behaviour project would benefit from running a simulation model but you don't know anything about computer programming? Help has arrived in the form of the free StarLogo TNG modelling and simulation software. With the introduction of 3D graphics and a blocks-based programming interface, this software, produced by MIT and designed for all ages from school up, provides the perfect opportunity for behavioural researchers to get involved in modelling their system of interest.

Part 1 of this workshop introduces you to the StarLogo TNG software through a worked example looking at the emergent properties of a simple biological model. Part 2 provides an opportunity to explore the use of StarLogo a further. Part 1 can be taken on its own but those wishing to do Part 2 must also sign up to Part 1.

[http://education.mit.edu/projects/starlogo-tng]