- BERG - University of Stirling Mailing Lists

Tomorrow's BERG
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 28 Feb '12

28 Feb '12

Dear all Reminder that tomorrow we have Dr. Mark Tramner (University of Manchester) speaking Jackdaw feeding behaviour. Wednesday 29th Feb at 5.30 pm in the Psychology Common Room (3A94, Cottrell Building) as usual. Also pleased to say the schedule is now full, thanks to Kristen Knowles! Please find final schedule attached. Hope to see you tomorrow. Hannah If you wish to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to the BERG mailing list please follow instructions here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg Just launched: http://marmosetcare.com/ Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Psychology, School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland Tel: 01786 467674 Fax: 01786 467641 E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/staff-profiles/academic-staff/hannah… -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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Super cake Monday 27th - buy cakes, help SCAB!
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

For folk on site in Stirling - please read message below from Alan Law about how to support SCAB by buying cakes! Hi all, As you know Ros is organising the SCAB conference at Stirling on March 10th, but we are both trying to raise a small amount of money so we can provide everyone with refreshments at the end of the conference day. To do this we are going bake some cakes and bring them in on Monday 27th at coffee time ( 11am) and sell them for minuscule prices to all you lucky people (I'll be making fresh cup cakes!). We would welcome anyone else who like to contribute a cake to let me know via email and to bring it along on Monday, anything sweet and cake like is most welcome. Place: 4U1 across from the BES office at 11am Thanks, Alan p.s. hopefully everyone hasn't given up cake for lent! -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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SCAB - important
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Rosalind Murray is doing an excellent job on organising SCAB - 10th March - here in Stirling. To register, and commit yourself to the £15 registration fee, please e-mail Rosalind directly to let her know you are coming - asap - r.l.murray(a)stir.ac.uk Today is the last day to register a talk or poster. Let's put on a good show - we really need more posters! The programme should be out soon and I shall circulate it. Hannah -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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Meeting on Wednesday
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 20 Feb '12

20 Feb '12

Dear BERGers On Wednesday 22nd Feb, at 5.30pm in the common room (3A94), we shall have out first BERG meeting for the year. We shall brief introductions to welcome new folk, and welcome back folk returning from field work, and then I thought it would be a nice idea to reflect upon some of our academic achievements in 2011. Put modesty aside for a moment and let us know of an academic high. For example, if Craig was there he might tell us about his edited book Applied Evolutionary Psychology (http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199586073.do) or Jack Griffey and Louise Lock and others might tell us they were doctored! We want to hear about any highs - papers accepted, grants awarded, conference papers given. Let us spend a few moments celebrating our achievements as a group. I’ll them give a slide show of a different sort of high (altitude) in the Himalayas. Hope to see you there. The following week (Wed 29th Feb), Dr Mark Tranmer from the University of Manchester will give a talk about Jackdaw feeding behaviour – please see abstract below. Best, Hannah Investigating Jackdaw feeding behaviour with statistical models. Mark Tranmer, Mitchell Centre for Social Network analysis and CCSR, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Selvino de Kort, School of Science and The Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, UK. The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is a member of the “crow family” (Corvidae), found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa. de Kort et al (2006) collected data on the feeding behaviour of 12 Jackdaws over a 14 day period, with a particular focus on food sharing. Once collected, de kort et al (2006) aggregated the data into two time points (week 1 and week 2), and were interested in the following main research questions about the feeding behaviour of the birds. 1) Is there any evidence of reciprocity in food sharing? 2) What is the general relationship between senders and receivers in terms of food sharing, and this relationship change over time? 3) Is food sharing more similar for jackdaws with similar characteristics (homophily effects)? They applied a largely descriptive analysis to the aggregated data. A statistical modelling approach can also be used with these aggregate data, regarding the 12 Jackdaws as a small network at each of the two time points, and using, separately for each of the two time points, the Generalised Bilinear Mixed Effects (GMBE) model (Hoff, 2005): based on the statistical framework of the Social Relations Model, but not restricted to the assumption of a normally distributed response. More recently, it transpires that de Kort et al have disaggregated behavioural data available for every food item in sequence over time, indicating whether a bird eats a food item itself, shares it with another bird, whether the item is stolen by another bird, or begged for by another bird. Given the substantive research questions about bird behaviour, such as reciprocity in food sharing, and these disaggregated data, we investigate the potential of the relational events model for understanding Jackdaw feeding behaviour, and discuss some interesting features of the Jackdaw data in the context of relational event modelling. de Kort, S., Emery, N., Clayton, N., Aug. 2006. Food sharing in Jackdaws, Corvus monedula: what, why and with whom? Animal Behaviour 72 (2), 297–304. Hoff, P. D., Mar. 2005. Bilinear Mixed-Effects Models for Dyadic Data. Journal of the American Statistical Association 100 (469), 286–295. Just launched: http://marmosetcare.com/ Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Psychology, School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland Tel: 01786 467674 Fax: 01786 467641 E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/staff-profiles/academic-staff/hannah… -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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BERG schedule
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Dear all Please find attached the BERG schedule for spring (includes notes for responsible persons/speakers). I am going to kick off our meetings next Wednesday 22nd Feb at 5.30pm in room 3A94 (as usual). Following brief introductions to meet new BERGers, I'll give a slide show of my Himalayan Adventures whilst you drink and nibble away! We have an external speaker the following week (29th Feb) - Mark Tramner from the University of Manchester talking about Jackdaw feeding behaviour I am still looking for someone to speak on 14 March - please offer! Please also note for your diaries: Seminars in Biology Stirling: http://www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/research/seminar.html Psychology, St. Andrews: http://psy.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/seminars.shtml noting Simon Baron-Cohen on 20th April. Scottish Conference on Animal Behaviour is here in Stirling on Saturday 10th March. PSGB is 17th and 18th April 2012, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Kent http://www.psgb.org/Meetings/Spring2012.html See you next week I hope! Hannah Just launched: http://marmosetcare.com/ Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Psychology, School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland Tel: 01786 467674 Fax: 01786 467641 E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/staff-profiles/academic-staff/hannah… -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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Fwd: FW: Extra seminar from Malinda Carpenter
by Emily Messer 02 Feb '12

02 Feb '12

Dear all, Please see the forwarded message below for a seminar which may be of interest to you in St Andrews next Wednesday (8th Feb) in the seminar room. Many thanks, Emily ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stephen Reicher <sdr(a)st-andrews.ac.uk> Date: 1 February 2012 09:15 Subject: FW: Extra seminar from Malinda Carpenter To: psy-staff <psy-staff(a)st-andrews.ac.uk>, Helen Sunderland < hes1(a)st-andrews.ac.uk>, psy-postg <psy-postg(a)st-andrews.ac.uk> Dear all, There is to be an extra seminar next Wednesday at 5pm from Malinda Carpenter of the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig (details below). The seminar is to be held in the Seminar Room, *not* the Old Library. Steve * * Social motivations in infants and young children: Affiliation, alignment, and prosocial behaviour Malinda Carpenter Department of Developmental and Comparative Psychology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig, Germany Humans may be unique among animals in our social motivations, for example in the extent to which we identify with and wish to align ourselves with our fellow group members. I show here that these social motivations are already present in infancy and early childhood. I present a series of studies on imitation, affiliation, and identification, which highlight young children’s connections with their social group and document their early preferential treatment of in- vs. out-group members. A theme running through many of these studies is the prevalence of * pro*social motivations in children as well, in particular their tendency to help others. Thus I also take some time to discuss helping in young children, for example showing how eager children are to help others in general, but at the same time how children’s tendency to help can be increased further, and how (appropriately) selective children are in whom they help. I conclude that strong social and prosocial motivations are seen already beginning in infancy. -- Emily. J. E. Messer PhD Student Scottish Primate Research Group Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution School of Psychology University of St Andrews St Marys Quad, South Street, St Andrews KY16 9JP +44 (0)1334 46 3043

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SCAB 2012 - Scottish Conference on Animal Behaviour
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 31 Jan '12

31 Jan '12

Dear all We are delighted to invite you to the 2012 Scottish Conference on Animal Behaviour (SCAB) which will be held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 10th March 2012. It is being organised by Rosalind Murray (see Rosalind Murray - http://www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/people/postgrads/murray/index.html ). Anyone interested is encouraged to submit talk or poster titles to Rosalind at r.l.murray(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:r.l.murray@stir.ac.uk>. Priority for talks will be given to graduate students and depending on demand, talks will be either 15 or 20 minutes including questions. The cost to attend is £15 which includes coffee/tea and two-course lunch. Please distribute this invitation to everyone who might be interested in attending or presenting, and display the attached poster. We shall need to know who is attending nearer the time, to plan or catering. I hope we have a good turnout of Stirling and SPRG staff and students!! Thanks, Hannah PS we have just one BERG slot remaining on 14th March, so please grab it quickly if you are keen to present at BERG - doodle poll:. http://doodle.com/8tmhhnwum3isknnu Just launched: http://marmosetcare.com/ Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Psychology, School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland Tel: 01786 467674 Fax: 01786 467641 E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/staff-profiles/academic-staff/hannah… -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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BERG sign up for Spring!
by Hannah Buchanan-Smith 18 Jan '12

18 Jan '12

Dear BERGers With Christine on sabbatical, I am tasked with running BERG again, unless someone else would like to volunteer to lead it - please just let me know! Mind the rush.... The first meeting is on Wednesday 22 February at 5.30pm in 3A94 (Psychology common room), and is mainly a social catch up. I'll do a brief slide presentation on recent adventures in the Himalayas. I have set up a Doodle sign-up, so just fill it out to indicate the week that you would like to present (and add dates to your diary). Presenting at BERG is an excellent way to practice talks, hone your presentation skills, get feedback on grant application ideas, lead a discussion of a research paper etc. The sign up is here: http://www.doodle.com/8tmhhnwum3isknnu When you sign up for a slot, please send me a brief title/topic BEFORE 15th February so I can circulate the programme in advance. If you have new students who wish to be on the BERG mailing list, please send them this e-mail. To sign up to the BERG mailing list new folk must complete the form available here: http://lists.stir.ac.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/berg UFAW generously sponsors our meetings. If you are not already a member please consider joining UFAW (http://www.ufaw.org.uk/ ). It is only £5 for students (£10 others) without access to their journal, Animal Welfare. By joining UFAW you can help make real, practical and lasting advances to animal welfare throughout the world - for companion animals, farm animals, animals used in research, captive wild animals and those living in the wild that are affected by human activities. Please do join to thank them for their continued support of us in BERG and to enhance animal welfare. Many thanks, Hannah Just launched: http://marmosetcare.com/ Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith Professor, Behaviour and Evolution Research Group Psychology, School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling, FK9 4LA Scotland Tel: 01786 467674 Fax: 01786 467641 E-mail: h.m.buchanan-smith(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:h.m.buchanan-smith@stir.ac.uk> http://www.psychology.stir.ac.uk/staff/staff-profiles/academic-staff/hannah… ________________________________ The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159. -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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FW: Field Position, Monogamous Primates of Ecuador
by Phyllis Lee 10 Jan '12

10 Jan '12

________________________________________ From: Eduardo Fernandez-Duque [eduardof(a)sas.upenn.edu] Sent: 09 January 2012 19:42 Subject: Field Position, Monogamous Primates of Ecuador Dear colleagues, I would like to ask if you could please be so kind of circulating the announcement and link below. We are looking for a field assistant to join our monogamous primate project in Ecuador. Thanks, Eduardo http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/jobs/listings/2417 Category: field Title: Field Assistant: comparative socioecology of monogamous titi and saki monkeys of Ecuador Hiring Organization: Dr. Eduardo Fernandez-Duque- University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Anthony Di Fiore- University of Texas at Austin, and Amy Porter- Ph.D. candidate, University of California Davis Date Posted: 2012-01-09 Expiration date: 2012-04-08 Position Description: We are searching for a highly motivated and self-reliant field assistant to work on a comparative study of red titi monkeys (Callicebus discolor) and equatorial saki monkeys (Pithecia aequatorialis) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Titis and sakis have both been classified as socially monogamous and yet they show distinct differences in their social behavior, level of paternal care, and degrees of territoriality. Our study is investigating pair-mate relationships and the relative investment of the sexes in territorial behavior. Assistants will be responsible for collecting social behavior, foraging, ranging, demographic, and life history data from three titi groups and two saki groups. Other responsibilities will include assistance with playback experiments to simulate intergroup encounters, recording vocalizations, and data entry. Assistants will be trained in all relevant data collection and archiving methods, including behavioral sampling on handheld comput! ers, radio-telemetry, database manipulation, etc. Assistants will not be allowed to collect data for publication independent of our research project e.g. for their own theses. Ideally, this experience will be seen as an internship for your own future research. We do, however, strongly encourage assistants to work with us coauthoring papers based on or stemming from the data they assist in collecting. If you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree that involves fieldwork in the tropics, this will be a fantastic experience. Qualifications: Applicants should have a BS/BA in Primatology, Animal Behavior, Biological Anthropology, Biology, Ecology, or a related field. Although previous experience with primates is not necessary, previous experience with animals, camping, or working outdoors is strongly preferred. The ideal applicant should have prior experience with living or working in a foreign country, preferably a developing country in the tropics. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not necessary. Experience with collecting systematic data in a scientific context is preferred, and a strong interest in primate behavior and ecology a must. In general, applicants must be in good physical and mental condition; feel comfortable being far away from family and friends; be emotionally mature, energetic, and VERY patient; have an excellent eye for detail; not be afraid of bugs, snakes, or being alone in the forest; have very good social skills, especially in small groups; and be able to maintain a posi! tive and humorous attitude towards challenging and tiring work. This work will be rigorous and demanding. Assistants will be expected to work about 11 hours in the field each day, about 20 days out of each month. The terrain in the research site is quite hilly in places, seasonally floods in others, and the climate is often hot, humid, and rainy this is a rainforest just south of the Equator in which 3 to 4 meters of rain falls a year thus persistence, maturity, dedication, and good humor are very important. Preference will be given to applicants with previous outdoor experience in demanding environments. Salary/funding: Applicants must pay their own round-trip airfare to Quito, Ecuador (cost varies) and for travel within Ecuador to and from the research station (circa US$200). Assistants are also responsible for the costs of obtaining a visa to work in Ecuador (circa US$350), for health insurance and immunizations that permit that work (proof of yellow fever immunization is a must; vaccination against typhoid, rabies, hepatitis, etc., are all also strongly recommended), their own personal field clothes and gear (backpack, insect repellent, digital watch with a chronometer and timer, headlamp, water bottles, etc). Successful applicants will be expected to cover their first month of station fees ($32/day=$960) in advance as soon as they arrive. After that first month, the remaining station fees will be covered by the investigators. Station fees include on-site lodging, laundry, and three meals daily. Term of Appointment: Minimum 3 month commitment, longer commitments preferred. Application Deadline: Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Comments: please send an email to Amy Porter (spizaetusornatus(a)gmail.com) with copies to Anthony Di Fiore (anthony.difiore(a)mail.utexas.edu) and Eduardo Fernandez-Duque (eduardof(a)sas.upenn.edu) Please submit to all THREE people the following documentation in ONE single PDF file saved with your name in the file name (e.g. JohnSmith.pdf). 1. CV including relevant coursework, previous field/outdoor experience, and where/how you can be contacted 2. Letter of interest (please include dates you are available) 3. References from three persons (preferably professors or research supervisors with whom youve worked closely) in which they provide information about your experiences, skills, and training. Contact Information: Please direct all initial inquiries regarding the application process or project to Amy Porter 431 University Museum, 3260 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 US Telephone Number: Fax Number: 001-215-898-7462 Website: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~eduardof/ E-mail Address: eduardof(a)sas.upenn.edu If you wish to make changes to this posting, visit pin.primate.wisc.edu/jobs/edit/2417. -- The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010 The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.

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NC3Rs, ASAB and SEB joint meeting
by Alexander Weiss 05 Jan '12

05 Jan '12

Hi everybody, I hope you've all had a great Christmas and that the new year is finding you well. I was asked to circulate the following poster for a meeting this July to folks who would be interested. Please pass it around to other interested colleagues, etc. Best, Alex -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

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