MSc Student (Adv: Helmut Kratochvil)

Unit for Integrative Zoology, Department of Evolutionary Biology,
University of Vienna

Activity level is a key behavioural trait in many animals, which provide important information about their behavioural ecology and may be a relevant factor in conservation and economy. The aim of this study is to test a method in which the activity of small animals from various taxa of the animal kingdom is acoustically measured using the structure-borne noise they generate. Furthermore, these impulsive sound events resulting from the mechanical vibrations of the animals movements are to be evaluated with the aid of a newly developed method from the Institut für Schallforschung der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. These methods have many possible uses, for example the influence of various biotic and abiotic factors or pesticides on the activity level of animals can be measured. In this study, these methods are used to determine the effects of predator presence and day-night rhythm on the movement activity of Rana dalmatina tadpoles.