Interested in NEUROSCIENCE? Then come out to the first meeting of the Learn about volunteer activities, speakers and lectures, grad and med school, research.

Interested in NEUROSCIENCE?Then come out to the first meeting of the

Learn about volunteer activities, speakers and lectures, grad and med school, research opportunities, and much, much

more!

FREE PIZZA!

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Thursday, February 15 at 6pm229 Natural History Building

Exam 1, this Wednesday, 14-Feb.

If you last name begins with A – L: 116 RAL (right here)

If you last name begins with M – Z: 151 EVRT

Announcements

• Bring: #2 pencilPhoto IDStudent ID#NetID (usually 1st part of e-mail)

• Arrive early• Sit every other seat.• No cell phones, no hats• Neighbors will have different exams

Test Format

• 50 questions, multiple choice & T/F

• bonus questions (one short answer)

• 50 minutes

Test Material

• Any thing from lectures or text book is fair game

• Fact-based questions, concept application

Chapters from Book: 1, 2, 3, 5

Understand examples, terms (usually bolded), and be able to answer the discussion questions in each chapter (unless they require additional reading).

Assigned Reading

Lecture 2: Foundations

1) Animal behavior is about interactions2) History of animal behavior

ethology behaviorism interdisciplinary3) Founders & their contributions

Tinbergen, Lorenz, von Frisch, Skinner4) Instincts & sign stimuli

Genetically programmed behavior vs. learned behavior

Lecture 3: Science Methods

1) Scientific method depends on TESTINGhypothesis testing: supported, never “proven”

2) Approachestheoretical, experimental, comparativeunderstand use of control, replication

3) Data & variationstatistics, accuracy vs. precision, qualitative vs. quantitative (categorical)

4) Theory vs. law, evolution5) Limitations of science

Lecture 4: Evolution1) Definitions:

diversity, population, gene, taxonomy, evolution, speciation, natural selection, coevolution

2) Mechanisms of evolutionmutation, drift, migration, selection

3) 3 requirements for evolution by natural selection4) Examples of evolution in action

pepper moths, herbicide & antibiotic resistance5) Group selection

its limitations, and when it can occur6) Adaptationist vs. Nonadaptationist explanations for

behavior

Additional material from textbook:

Make sure you understand the example with voles (Chap 1, page 4-8) under the heading “Understanding Monogamy”

Lecture 5: Proximate & Ultimate

1) Proximate & Ultimate questions2) Gene x Environment interactions3) Song learning: Proximate

Developmental: environment (auditory & social)Physiological: neural circuitry, hormones

4) Song learning: UltimateAttract mates, hold territoriesProbably evolved 3 times independentlyEvolves to suit ecological environment

What is the differences between Proximate and Ultimate questions?

What is the distinction between Proximate and Ultimate causes?

Proximate questions - howmechanisms responsible for interactions

processes, mechanisms, “nuts and bolts”

Ultimate questions - whyhow these interactions influence an individual's survival and reproduction.

evolutionary reasons, fitness consequences

Tinbergen’s 4 questions

Proximate causation: sensory motor mechanisms Ontogeny: interaction between genes and environment to shape behavior (development)Ultimate Causation: selective processes that shape behavior (function)Phylogeny: historical processes that shape behavior (constraints)

Additional material from textbook:

Chapter 2: You do not have to memorize the names (or acronyms) for the neural components of the brian.

Lecture 6: Genetics I

1) Gene x Environment interactions2) Classical vs.Operant conditioning3) Innate behaviors, fixed action patterns.4) Methods to quantify genetic component of

behavior (including modern methods)5) Know coefficients of relatedness between

relatives. 6) Understand why it may be difficult to identify

genes for behavior.

Lecture 7: Genetics II

1) Two ways that genetic variation (sequence vs. expression) can influence behavior.

2) Understand how microarrays work.

3) Understand basic principles behind division of labor in honey bees (types of behavior, ontogeny of behavior).

Additional material from textbook:

You do not have to memorize the names of specific genes and their effects.

Lecture 8: Hormones

1) Know: What hormones are. Where are they made? What do they do?

2) Modes of hormone action3) Organizational vs activational effects. 4) Hormones influence on behavior

– Sexual behavior– Other behaviors– Understand that hormonal mechanisms are often

conserved among species but can also differ among species.

Additional material from textbook:

Make sure you understand proximate and ultimate mechanisms for temporal variation in behavior (Chap 5, page 148-160) under the heading “Behavioral Schedules”

Lecture 9: Development

1) Understand the proximate and ultimate reasons for developmental flexibility and developmental homeostasis.

2) Know the different mechanisms of kin discrimination.

3) Understand fluctuating asymmetry and its causes.

What is the difference between developmental homeostasis and flexibility?

What evidence exists to prove these two things?

What are their benefits?

Developmental flexibility: a change in the development & production of a behavior based on variation in environment.

Examples: learned behaviors, hormonal effects on behaviors, just about everything except behavioral differences due entirely to genetic differences!

Proximate reason: It occurs as a result of genotype by environment interactions on developing traits.

trait(phenotype)

environmental variation

trait(phenotype)

environmental variation

trait(phenotype)

environmental variation

trait(phenotype)

environmental variation

Why does developmental flexibility exist?

Ultimate reason: Flexibility can account for important, but variable environmental conditions, leading to increased fitness under different conditions.

Anolis lizards: morphology of hind legs changes when raised on large trunks or small branches.

trait = hind limb length

env. var. = branch width

Fitness benefits = lizards faster when limb length matches branch width. (escape, prey capture)

Normal vs. cannibal forms in tiger salamandersIndividuals can develop as normal predatory larvae or switch over to a cannibal form.

Switch to cannibalism affected by:Population densitySize differencesDrying of water sourceGenetic relatedness to others

Prop. cannibals

density or drying rate

Fitness benefits = cannibals have more prey, grow faster(cost = spread disease, more conspicuous to predators).

Developmental homeostasis: Development of specific behaviors despite variation in environment

This category includes, but is not limited to innate behaviors

Proximate reason: Developmental process not influenced by environmental variation.

Why does developmental homeostasis exist?

Ultimate Reason: Homeostasis reduces the chance of devastating developmental errors due to environmental deficits/changes.

For example, regardless of environmental conditions, tadpoles still need to metamorphose into frogs.

Lecture 10: Recognition

1) Know the different types of recognition systems (what they do).

2) Know how they work.

3) Understand the components of recognition systems.

4) Understand Optimal Threshold Models for recognition.

Lecture 11: Coevolution• Coevolution: The occurrence of genetically determined traits

in two or more species selected by the mutual interactions controlled by these traits.

• Species interactions where coevolution is likely to occur: Predation, Competition, Mutualisms and Mating (hybridization)

• Character displacement: when the expression of a character (i.e., behavior) changes when species occur together (sympatry) due to competition or reproductive isolation.

Co-evolution in Mating

• Optimal threshold model – what can be modified to avoid hybridization?– Call modification vs. call perception (signaler

vs. receiver)

• The developmental plasticity of a trait can in fact be considered a trait in its own right.

• Arms races – constrained

• Red Queen Effect – running in place

• Pred/Prey and Parasite/Host – sensory tuning and mimicry of cues

• Mutualisms– Obligate vs. facultative

– Trophic, Dispersive, Defensive

• Mutualisms as major stepping stones in evolution

• Evidence for co-evolution (demonstrate genetic changes invoked by species interactions)