Table 2

Parameters of locomotion in a dark large arena (2 × 2 m). As shown, level of activity was not affected, whereas the spatiotemporal structure underwent significant changes. Bonferroni adjustment of p-value was calculated by P = 0.05/10 = 0.005. Mean (± SEM) are followed by the results of Tukey HSD test, indicating the numbers of the significantely different test groups (as appeared in the top row).


Empty (1)
4 Stones (2)
16 Stones (3)
F18;p

Level of activity




     Traveled distance (m.)
116.51 ± 7.52
110.17 ± 11.58
99.09 ± 10.38
0.91; ns
     Speed (m/sec)
0.21 ± 0.02
0.21 ± 0.02
0.20 ± 0.01
0.24; ns
Temporal Structure




     Stops
159.1 ± 18.23
185.6 ± 9.43
322.7 ± 32.01,2
18.67; .0004
     # of trips
40.14 ± 5.532,3
62.57 ± 3.261,3
134.14 ± 13.971,2
36.68; 0.000001
     Stops/trip
4.04 ± 0.232,3
3.01 ± 0.231,3
2.41 ± 0.041,2
21.20; 0.00019
     Trip length (m.)
3.08 ± 0.262,3
1.81 ± 0.251,3
0.74 ± 0.041,2
36.41;0.00000
     Inter-stop distance (m.)
0.77 ± 0.072,3
0.59 ± 0.051,3
0.31 ± 0.011,2
26.75; <0.00001
Spatial Distribution




     Center stops (%)
25.8 ± 1.32,3
49.8 ± 4.81,2
70.0 ± 1.01,2
66.09; 0.00000
     Center time (%)
29.3 ± 4.22,3
53.4 ± 6.01
57.7 ± 3.61
11.58; 0.00058
     Meander
-0.44 ± 0.031,2
-0.33 ± 0.021,3
-0.29 ± 0.051,2
7.10; 0.0053

Eilam BMC Ecology 2004 4:16   doi:10.1186/1472-6785-4-16