Institut für den wissenschaftlichen Film (IWF)

The film gives a survey on innate behaviour patterns of the grey-lag goose. The first part shows reproductive behaviour. In the second part some behaviour patterns of gosling being imprinted on their human foster parent are shown: following reaction, separation of two flocks according to their imprinting, response to the alarm call and landing "by order" of the flying young.

The film shows open air shots of life in the colony of the sea lion. The following behaviours are shown: establishing territories and rivalry fights, courting and mating, feeding the young, play among young animals.

Experiments on the crystallization of various inorganic substances: crystallization from solution, crystallization from melt and vapour phase, mixed crystal formation, oriented growth, change from a metastable into a stable phase.

Before shearing, done with electric devices and hand shears, lambs are separated from the flock. The lambs are not yet shorn but dipped in a disinfectant, parasiticidal liquid prescribed by law. For the auction, held in autumn, the sheep for sale are loaded on special trucks and transported from the pasture to the public sale.

The flight and feeding customs of the most important sea bird species of the Galapagos Islands are described. Some characteristic body and wing measurements are used to describe the flight of these species. The species which are able to forage furthest out at sea and deepest in the water are the most successfull on the Galapagos Islands, measured by their abundance. The least abundant bird is the lava-gull, a shore bird and surface-feeder.

The film begins by depicting the social courtship of the drakes. With increasing intensity of the instinctive movements actual pair formation is reached and mating follows, accompanied by prelude and postlude. The fight of the males follows and finally the attempt of a rape.

The film shows the spatial distribution and the behaviour of the Mediterranean demoiselle Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis on typical reproduction waters. The great importance of suitable perches becomes obvious. These perches, e. g. single rush stems, are used by immature, hunting individuals as well as by reproductive males that are controlling territories from these sites. The latter chase all other individuals, the result being a spatial segregation between immature and reproductive specimens during the day. Typical behaviour, such as threatening, courting, copulation, and oviposition is shown in different film speeds.

Calopteryx cornelia only occurs in one color morph and shows the typical dragonfly behavior. Species of the genus Mnais form different color morphs. Males with intensely colored wings are dominant over males with hyaline wings.

The three-spined stickleback is shown. Nest building, zigzag dance, fanning at the nest, sometimes following a female, also short mouth fights, the female swimming into the nest, spawning, the male poking at the rear end of the partner, inseminating the eggs in the nest after the female swims away.

The film shows the prey-catching behaviour of the edible frog at a small garden pond and at a gravelpit. The catching of creeping and (under experimental conditions) hanging earthworms, of flies sitting on the surface of the water and of egglaying dragonflies (Sympetrum spec.) in tandem position are visible.

The film documents the tobacco season of 1993/94 from the planting of the tobacco through the harvest and sale until the sowing for the next season - using some small planters from the villages around Schwedt on the Oder and a large farm, the former Agricultural Co-operative in Vierraden in an exemplary manner. It describes the transformation in the technical and agricultural fields. Different planters and representatives of the Tobacco Grower's Association discuss the situation of tobacco planting in the GDR compared to current conditions and answer questions on their self-organisation and on the future of tobacco cultivation in the Uckermark.

Bonobos show a particularly pronounced sexual activity and an extraordinarily broad spectrum of sexual contacts for primates. These also extend to non-reproductive life phases and partner combinations. For example, homosexual contacts and sexual contacts between young animals or with adults are frequent, and females are ready to mate throughout the menstrual cycle. Bonobos use sexual contacts not only for reproductive purposes, but also in the context of social conflicts, where they have a clear tension-reducing or peacemaking function.

For its reproduction, the megaloprepus dragonfly specifically relies on periodic puddles in tree holes and bromeliacea in tropical rain forests. Territorial males tenaciously defend these resources. Females lay their eggs in the water holes of the territorial males and are guarded by them. Any satellite male - i. e., one without a territory - who tries to grab a female is driven away by the territorial male.

The arousal behavior of the warthog is shown. Also explained is the muzzle fight between boars and females.

Queen rearing is one of the most important areas of beekeeping. After explaining the breeding objectives, the three most common methods for rearing queen bees are described: Breeding in the queenless colony; breeding via the pre-brood box; breeding via starter and finisher. Special attention is also paid to the selection and presentation of the breeding material, selection and preparation of the care colony, controlled mating and the safe introduction of queens into the colonies.

Swimming movements of a common seal under water, propulsion through hind extremities.

Documentary on how the osprey catches its prey. The film shows the search for prey, the launch maneuvers, take-off maneuvers and the fights with the fish.

The courtship behavior of Great Bustards is studied. The male Great Bustard is considerably larger than the female. This impression is reinforced during courtship when the male dances in front of the female, showing the light undersides of its wings and inflating its throat pouch.

Short film about the life cycle of a moon jellyfish

Short film about the movement patterns of protozoa