Why do Giraffes have Long Necks?

A Case Study in the Scientific Method

1
OBSERVATION
Giraffes have
long necks …

Sébastien Rezzonico / EyeEm / Getty Images

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2 QUESTION
… but why do giraffes have
long necks?

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3 RESEARCH
At this point, the
researcher goes
away to do some
basic research, to
see if anyone has Away you go! See if you
and your group can

suggested answers propose an answer to

the question. Add it to
the Padlet.

to the question. 4
4 HYPOTHESIS

Develop a
hypothesis which
might explain why
giraffes have long Write down
your
necks hypothesis.

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4 HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis

Giraffes have long

necks in order to take
advantage of high food
sources.
google.co.uk
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5 TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS
For this case study, we need to use existing research
studies, but imagine that we are doing this
reasearch.
Lynne Isbell and Truman Young, and Barbara and
Walter Leuthold carried out field observations of
giraffe feeding in Kenya.
Young, T. P., & Isbell, L. A. (1991). Sex differences in giraffe feeding ecology:
Energetic and social constraints. Ethology, 87(1-2),
79–89. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1991.tb01190.x

Leuthold, B.M., & Leuthold, W. (1972). Food habits of giraffe in Tsavo National
Park, Kenya.
5 TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS 1
Field observations of giraffe feeding (Young and Isbell 1991)
15 minute samples (n=39)
Record
• plant species
• plant height
• # bites per eating bout
• time per eating bout
• giraffe identity

Prediction: What do you expect to see based on your

hypothesis? 8
6 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 1
Experiment 1: Feeding Habits
Percent feeding at different feeding
heights for adult male and females
giraffes.

Adult giraffes are 4.5-5.5 m tall.

(based on Young and Isbell 1991)

Do these data support your hypothesis? 9

5 TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS 2
Field observations of giraffe feeding (Leuthold
and Leuthold, 1972)
Performed in both green and dry seasons
For each time a giraffe feeds (n=3124), record
• plant species
• browsing height: low (<2 m) or high (>2m)
Prediction: What do you expect to see based on your
hypothesis? 10
6 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 2
Experiment 2: Feeding Habits
Percent feeding at low heights.
Every feeding observations was
classified as low (<2m) or high
(>2m).

(based on Leuthold and Leuthold

1972)

Do these data support your hypothesis?

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7 CONCLUSION
The hypothesis must be rejected, on the basis of the
two research investigations we have completed, which
do not show that giraffes with long necks have a
feeding advantage.

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8
EVALUATION
A New Direction …
As you observed giraffes feeding, you also noticed that
males would frequently spar (and sometimes fight) by
swinging their heads and necks at each other.
MALE GIRAFFES NECK FIGHTING
(I suggest that you run this video without sound!)

Develop a new hypothesis based on these observations.

Propose an experiment to test your hypothesis.
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4b HYPOTHESIS 2

Male giraffes have

long necks in
order to compete
for females.
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4b TESTING HYPOTHESIS 2
David M. Pratt & Virginia H. Anderson (1985) Giraffe social behaviour, Journal of
Natural History, 19:4, 771-781, DOI: 10.1080/00222938500770471

Field observations of giraffes (Pratt and Anderson, 1985)

Classify all males as
• A (large, thick necks, and massive horns)
• B (thicker necks and longer horns than C)
• C (young, narrow necks, small horns)
Record dominance interactions between males and courting
behavior with females.
Prediction: What do you expect to see based on your
hypothesis? 15
6B RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Dominance Interactions
Number of bulls displaced by A, B,
and C bulls. A bulls are the largest, B
bulls are intermediate, and C bulls are
the smallest.

The ability of a bull to displace

another bull indicates dominance.

(based on Pratt and Anderson 1985)

Do these data support your hypothesis?

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6B RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Dominance Interactions
Number of bulls observed courting
cows. A bulls are the largest, B bulls
are intermediate, and C bulls are the
smallest.

(based on Pratt and Anderson, 1985)

Do these data support your hypothesis?

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7B CONCLUSION

The hypothesis IS SUPPORTED, on the basis of the one

research investigation we have completed, which
shows that male giraffes have long necks in order to
more successfully compete for females.

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Why do giraffes have long necks?
• Hypothesis 1: Giraffes have long necks in
order to take advantage of high food sources.
REJECTED

• Hypothesis 2: Male giraffes have long necks in

order to compete for females
SUPPORTED
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8 EVALUATION - again
This time we do not need to revise the hypothesis. Rather, we
try to define and quantify our sources of error and make
recommendations for future research. For instance, I
personally have never been very convinced by the rejection of
the feeding hypothesis and am not convinced by the male
fighting hypothesis. I would want to analyse more data.
Now see if you can identify three sources of error
in this research, make three suggestions how to
minimise those sources of error, and make one
recommendation for future research.
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9 COMMUNICATION – so important!

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AND NOW ITS YOUR TURN!
Zebras have black and white
stripes …

… but why do zebras have

black and white stripes?
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