MEASURING ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Using ethology to define, quantify and analyse behavioural data
This advanced course will focus on how to use an ethological approach to quantify and understand behavioural data. Participants will learn the four questions of Ethology (the four levels of analysis to study animal behaviour: evolution, function, development and mechanisms) and use them in a practical way. For that, we will use examples of several taxa to build ethograms, learn the methods and tools to record and register behaviour on different types of studies, and finally learn the possible uses of such data. The final session will entail real-life ethological observations at the Palma Aquarium, where the participants will have the opportunity to design their ethological study, perform observations to collect data and analyse it and answer their research questions. Specially designed for undergraduate, master and PhD students with interest in animal behaviour.
Participants are expected to have at least some knowledge on general biology, physiology, ecology and evolution.
The course is hosted at the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA-CSIC/UIB) located in Esporles (Mallorca, Spain), in collaboration with FishEthoGroup Association (FEG) and the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR).
Limited to 20 participants! Registrations will be closed when seats are filled!
Dates: June 10th-12th, 2025 (3 days)
Location: Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA), Esporles, Mallorca, Spain. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFdfT78DhhYsXYMG8)
Price: 200 €* (includes two full-day lectures at IMEDEA and one day visit to Palma Aquarium). 50% off for registrations before June 1st.
Registrations open on April 20th. Register through: mail@fishethogroup.net
Information requested for registration:
- Full name
- Formation/background:
- Current status/job position:
- Company/Institution:
- Country:
Once pre-registrations have been received, those who have been accepted will be informed in strict order of registration.
About the lecturers:
Dr. João Saraiva is a fish ethologist with a special interest in welfare. He is currently leading the Fish Ethology and Welfare Group at the Centre of Marine Sciences in Faro, Portugal and is the president and founder of the FishEthoGroup Association. With a research background on behaviour and communication in teleosts, João now focuses on the application of fundamental science to improve the welfare of fishes, both in aquaculture and in fisheries. The team lead by João has an extensive record of achievements in research, training, dissemination and consultancy. He is an invited lecturer of Ethology at the University of Algarve, and also works as a consultant for EU institutions, certification bodies and other private stakeholders.
Dr. María Cabrera is a biologist with a speciality in fish behaviour and neuroscience. She did a MSc in Animal Behaviour and Neuroscience at Utrecht University (The Netherlands), a PhD in Fish Social Behaviour and Neuroscience at McGill University (Canada) and worked at a Comparative Cognition laboratory at the University of Cambridge (UK). María is currently a researcher at the FishEthoGroup Association and the Center of Marine Sciences of the Algarve (CCMAR). She is interested in the underlying mechanisms of animal cognition and social behaviour and in how we can use this information to improve the life and welfare of farmed fishes. Her latest work involves the use of heart rate bio-loggers to explore the effects of environmental enrichment and stunning and slaughter methods on fish welfare.