INDEPENDENT GROUP PROJECTS (ca. 3 days)GoalsTest own hypothesis based on prior literature studyDesign own experimentCarry out field work & experimentsAdvanced data analysis and data interpretationOral presentation and written report (in English)Collective intelligence in ants

Contest evolution in shore crabs

Aggregation behaviour in mussels

Kin recognition in sea anemones

Shelter selection in isopods Coexistence of snail colour morphs

Literature search

• Endnote database – CTRL-ALT-P to open PDF

Literature search

• KUL proxy https://stuiterproxy.kuleuven.be/ plus Google Scholar

Guidelines for projects

• Good projects should be conceptually / hypothesis driven and test specific concepts from ecology or behaviour ecology

• Purely descriptive projects are discouraged(e.g. rocky shore zonation, comparison sheltered vs exposed coast, transect studies)

• Experimental studies are better

Example topics

Behavioural ecology• Game theory / animal contest

evolution • Kin recognition • Self organization• Aggregation behaviour• Anti-predator behaviour• Selfish herd effect• Behavioural syndromes / animal

personalities• Human behaviour ecology /

experimental game theory

Ecology• Habitat selection• Niche segregation• Local adaptation• Dispersal• Plant-pollinator interactions

Study organisms – Marine / Shore• Sea anemones (Anemonia viridis, Actinia equina)

• Shore crabs (Carcinus maenas)

• Broad clawed porcelain crab (Porcellana platycheles)

• Barnacles (Semibalanus balanoides, Elminius modestus)

• Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus)

• Topshellls (Gibbula)

• Limpets (Patella vulgata)

• Periwinkles (Littorina)

• Mussels (Mytilus edulis)

• Sandhoppers (Talitrus, Orchestia)

• Sea lice (Ligia oceanica)

• Blennies (Lipophrys pholis)

• Prawns (Palaemon elegans, Crangon crangon)

Study organisms - Freshwater• Tadpoles (Bufo bufo)• Boatman (Notonecta glauca)• Palmate newt (Triturus helveticus)• Cladocera (Daphnia, Simocephalus)

Copepods (Cyclops, Diaptomus)

Study organisms - Land

• Snails (White-lipped snail Cepaea hortensis, Helix)• Woodlice (Armadillidium vulgare)• Ants

Lasius niger, Lasius alienusFormica fusca, Myrmica rubra

Guidelines for projects

• Project text: extended abstract (max 2 pages), with 3-5 key references, hypothesis, methods, key results & graph(s) of results plus stats in legend

• Presentation: 15 mins + 10 min questions