Animal Behavior Chapter 33 Behaviorthe way an animal

Animal Behavior Chapter 33

Behavior-the way an animal acts -is genetic l -is important to survival l -should be flexible (change with the environment) l

2 Important Parts: -stimulus- causes a response in an organism l -response- reaction to a stimulus l l Ex. stimulus-mouse moves in the grass response-owl attacks mouse

Innate Behavior -is an instinct, non-learned l -inborn l -is built into an animal’s nervous system l -does not change during an animal’s lifetime l Ex. nursing at birth, web building, nest building, courting, crying, coughing l

Reflex l A simple, automatic response to a stimulus that involves no conscious control (touching a hot object)

Fight or Flight Response l Mobilizes the body for greater activity

Communication l Passing information from one animal to another

Why communicate? l Choosing mates/courtship

Locate food

Warn of danger

How to communicate: Visually l Colorful bodies l Sound l Chemical signals (pheromones) l Electrical signals l

Special Behaviors l Circadian Rhythms: -Biological processes that occur over a 24 hour period “Internal biological clock” ex. awake during the day, asleep at night -shift workers confuse their circadian rhythms, jet lag

Reproduction Courting behaviors l (ex. singing in birds, croaking in frogs, spreading feathers in peacocks, neck flapping in lizards, chemicals (pheromones…. . odors)) l

Finding Food l Ex. “Talking” / “Dancing” in bees, spiders building webs)

Protection l Ex. wolves living in packs, buffalo living in herds, adults surround young

Migration Instinctive, seasonal movement of animals l -controlled by day length l -climate changes, mating, food l -navigate by sun and stars, geographic clues, Earth’s magnetic field l

Hibernation Period of inactivity during cold winter months l -body temperature drops l -oxygen consumption decreases l -breathing rates decline l -it conserves energy l -squirrels, chipmunks l

Estivation State of reduced metabolism that occurs in animals living in conditions of intense heat l -desert animals l

Territory A physical space an animal defends against other members of its species l Ex. l -selecting an appropriate territory has survival value l

Aggressive Behavior Used to intimidate another animal of the same species, usually does not end in death l Ex. bird calling, teeth baring, growling) l

Parental Behavior l Adults care for young, providing food, protection, and warmth. Very important for the survival of small litters

Learned Behavior -must be taught l -must be practiced l -can be changed l -accomplished through experiences l Ex. writing, driving l

Habituation l l Decrease in a response to a stimulus (ex. Birds with shadows overhead, horses)

Classical Conditioning l l l Making a mental connection between a stimulus and a good or bad event Ex. Using can food opener to feed dogs, raising hand to hit someone…. they flinch) Pavlov’s dogs

Operant Conditioning l l Trial and error. Behave a certain way to receive a reward Ex. Bird eats a colored butterfly, and it gets sick…. it won’t eat that kind of butterfly again

Insight Learning Applying previous knowledge (reasoning) to a new situation l Ex. Driver’s education…. . driving many different cars, then driving a 4 wheeler or jet ski, learning math in school) l -primates do this! l

Imprinting An animal, at a critical time of its life, forms a social attachment to another object l Ex. Duckling following its mother l

Only humans use language.