Project Details
Projekt
From lab to field: Studying the reproducibility of laboratory versus field animal experiments
Subject Area
Sensory and Behavioural Biology
Term
since 2026
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 569182440
Experiments with animals are conducted under both laboratory and field conditions. While the former approach is more common in e.g. biomedical or translational research, but also to analyze behavior under more controlled conditions, the latter approach mainly pertains to experiments carried out to study the biology or ecology of animals under natural conditions. This is, however, not the only difference: Laboratory animal experiments are typically conducted under highly standardized and controlled conditions with the aim of reducing within-experiment variation and improving the reproducibility of the outcome. By contrast, experiments in the field are usually characterized by less control and an extraordinary diversity of study conditions. Although field experiments thus represent real environmental conditions, it is assumed that exactly this inherent variability might hamper reproducibility later on. We here aim to challenge this traditional view and argue that the natural increase of within-experiment variation in the field might in fact benefit the robustness of findings, hence contributing to better reproducibility. To test our overall prediction and compare the reproducibility of differently designed lab versus field animal experiments, our project plan builds upon three work packages (WPs), each focusing on different parts of this "reproducibility paradox". Briefly, WP I will contrast the extreme ends of the within-experiment variation continuum and compare the reproducibility and translatability of field versus lab experiments. As this inevitably entails follow-up questions on how to guarantee the reproducibility of experimental approaches conducted in either case, WP II is designed to study the reproducibility of field animal experiments, while WP III will investigate the reproducibility of laboratory studies. To this end, we will combine field and lab work with both wild and laboratory rodents of different species and strains. Our experiments will involve behavioral tests and observations that can be carried out under both conditions as well as measures of physiological responses to exemplary experimental treatments. Reproducibility will be assessed by independently replicating behavioral experiments three times either within the same site or across different sites. We expect the project to have far-reaching implications for the design and conduct of behavioral studies, unfolding relevance for different scientific disciplines, from ecology over behavioral biology to biomedical research.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
