ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Ch. 51.1-2; 40.2
Jan 14, 2016
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Ch. 51.1-2; 40.2
Ethology: the study of behavior
How is this happening? Proximate causation-how a behavior occurs
Genetic basis, physiologic, innate response to a stimulus
Why is this happening? Ultimate causation- why a behavior occurs
Finding food, regulating temperature, courtship/mating, communication
What is behavior?
an action carried out by muscles under control of the nervous system in response to a stimulus (based on physiological systems and processes)
everything an organism does and how it does it, response to stimuli in the environment
essential for survival and reproduction and subject to natural selection
purpose may include communication with other organisms
examples: songbirds, courtship, scent marking, hunting, maintain homeostasis, migration etc.
Behavioral stimuli may be.. Environmental
Hormonal
sign (color, object, another organism)
Scent
circadian rhythms (daily behavior cycles triggered by light and dark)
physiologic (internal)
ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
signal: stimulus from one organism to another
communication: reception of signals
may be visual, chemical, tactile, auditory, pheromones
communication/behaviors are closely related to an organisms lifestyle and environment (will determine the type of communication used)
Innate behaviors all individuals in a population exhibit the same behavior despite
environment/lifestyle differences automatic, fixed, “built in” response triggered by a stimulus example: migration, hibernation
Learned behaviors modification of a behavior based on experiences triggered by a stimulus but variable social learning- learning through observing others associative learning-associate one environmental feature with another
classical conditioning (stimulus associated with outcome—positive/negative reinforcement)
Pavlov’s dogs operant conditioning (trial and error learning)
Push lever to get food (mice)
example: tool usage, hunting techniques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA96Fba-WHk
Homeostasis-maintaining internal balance
organisms behavior will change in an effort to maintain balance either internally or with the environment
negative feedback: reduces the stimulus (returning to a normal state)temperature regulation, insulin/glucose balance in blood
positive feedback: amplifies the stimulus (takes farther from normal state)labor/birthcarbon emissions and global warming
Taxis: change in direction, move away from (negative) or toward (positive) a stimulus (directional)
Chemotaxis (chemical)
Phototaxis (light)
Kinesis: change in rate of movement in response to a stimulus (non-directional)
Like stimulus (move slowly)
Dislike stimulus—agitated (move quickly)
Social Behaviors: interactions between individuals (evolutionary adaptations)
language, dominance, altruism, cooperation, imprinting
Habituation: loss of response to stimulus
VIDEOS
Birds of Paradise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7QZnwKqopo
Honey Bees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nga4Z_HRUsU
Sage Grouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0M8pZnNlnI
Monkeys and tool usage (life series)