Animal Behavior Magnet Biology Animal Behavior p Behavior

Animal Behavior Magnet Biology

Animal Behavior p Behavior: anything an animal does in response to a stimulus in its environment

Ethology • Study of how animals behave • 4 main questions 1. What stimulus elicits a behavior and what physiological mechanisms mediate a response? 2. How does the animals experiences during development influence the response 3. How does the behavior aid survival and reproduction 4. What is the behaviors evolutionary basis.

Instincts • Innate behavior – “fixed” (inherited) behaviors that all the animals in a population are born with (associated with instinct)

Movement • Kinesis – change in activity due to a stimulus • Taxis – orientation towards or away from a stimulus

Migration • Migration – a long distance change of locations done at regular intervals • Usually stimulated by seasonal changes • Use the sun, north star, or the earth magnetic field

Rhythms • Circadian rhythms – daily cycles (rest, eating, etc), usually regulated by light and dark • Circannual rhythms – yearly cycles usually linked to seasons. • Cortisol, released by the adrenal gland

Territoriality - defense of a physical space, territory §Songs, calls, intimidation, marking territory, attack, chase bashing-bison.

Fight or Flight • The decision to fight or run is measured by risk and reward (benefits should out weight costs)

Signaling • Usually, visually, chemical, or auditory

Learning • Nature vs nurture- Genetic inheritance vs Environmental Influences

Imprinting • Imprinting – a life long reaction or bond to an object or individual created at a young age • Usually a baby raised by a different species mistakenly believes he is of that species

Learning • Habituation – a reduction or loss of reaction to a stimuli (crying wolf)

Classical conditioning • Classical conditioning – a stimulus elicits a response • Povlov’s dog – ringing a dinner bell before dinner causes the dog to salivate without food being present

p. Pavlov’s dogs

Operant Conditioning • Operant conditioning – an animal connects his behavior with a good or bad response (trial and error) • Rewarding dog with a treat

Cognition • Cognition – the ability to think, reason and process information. • Cognition can be used to problem solve

Selection and Survival • Most behaviors are ultimately formed by natural selection for survival and reproduction

Mating Systems • Promiscuous – no mating bonds • Monogamous – strong bond forms one male one female for a long period • Polygamous – one sex mates with others

Antagonistic behavior • Competition to gain access to a resource.

Altruism • Altruism- animals reduces their individual fitness to increase the population fitness • Insect societies- reproduction limited to only one pair, the queen and her mate. Workers – take care of female and larvae; gather food

Social Learning • Social learning – an individual learns by copying the behavior of a more experienced individual. • This breeds culture. • Increases fitness

Mate choice copying • Mate choice copying – females choose mates that other females find attractive

THE END!!! • Time to show off what you have learned Good luck!!