P-05 Compartmental Models of Animal Behavior

Abstract

Animal behavior is integral to fitness and arises from complex interactions between internal and external factors. Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) at Protection Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington display a variety of behaviors on the colony during the breeding season. The most common gull behaviors are sleeping, preening, and resting. I used a system of four differential equations to predict numbers of sleeping, preening, and resting gulls on the colony as a function of seven environmental factors. The model explained 62%, 53%, 37%, and 25% of the variability in colony attendance, sleep, preen, and rest dynamics, respectively.

Acknowledgments

Dr. Shandelle M. Henson, Dr. James L. Hayward

Location

Buller Hall

Start Date

2-26-2016 2:30 PM

End Date

2-26-2016 4:00 PM

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Feb 26th, 2:30 PM Feb 26th, 4:00 PM

P-05 Compartmental Models of Animal Behavior

Buller Hall

Animal behavior is integral to fitness and arises from complex interactions between internal and external factors. Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) at Protection Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington display a variety of behaviors on the colony during the breeding season. The most common gull behaviors are sleeping, preening, and resting. I used a system of four differential equations to predict numbers of sleeping, preening, and resting gulls on the colony as a function of seven environmental factors. The model explained 62%, 53%, 37%, and 25% of the variability in colony attendance, sleep, preen, and rest dynamics, respectively.