Ecology Animal Behavior The study of behavior is known as ethology.

Responding to a Changing Environment 1. Physiological Responses - changing the functioning of the body - acclimation (dilating capillaries to release heat) 2. Morphological Responses - changing the anatomy (structure) of the body - growing thicker fur or change in fur color in winter 3. Behavioral Responses - changing behavior to adapt to the change - moving to a more favorable location - cooperative behavior - agonistic behavior when threatened Ask students to come up with additional examples of how animals adapt to changing conditions.

Essential knowledge 2.E.3: Timing and coordination of behavior are regulated by various mechanisms and are important in natural selection. a. Individuals can act on information and communicate it to others.

Nature vs. Nurture? Genes and the environment both influence behavior Innate behavior is developmentally fixed, regardless of the environment, and under strong genetic influence (ex. agonistic behavior) Learned behavior is due to cognitive development, change with experience & environment (ex. Mother bears teach their cubs about hunting, berry picking, fishing, and the best places to find tasty grubs)  A behavior is the nervous system’s response to a stimulus and is carried out by the muscular or the hormonal system. Behavior is subject to natural selection. “”Nature” refers to the animal’s genetics while “nurture” refers to the animal’s environment, especially with regard to learned behaviors. The debate between the two has been ongoing in biology. In 1979, Thomas Bouchard began to study twins who were separated at birth and reared in different families. He found that an identical twin reared away from his or her co-twin seems to have about an equal chance of being similar to the co-twin in terms of personality, interests, and attitudes as one who has been reared with his or her co-twin. This leads to the conclusion that the similarities between twins are due to genes, not environment, since the differences between twins reared apart must be due totally to the environment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Twin_Family_Study

Behaviors in animals are triggered by environmental cues and are vital to reproduction, natural selection and survival. Ex: hibernation Migration courtship

Organisms respond to changes in their environment through behavioral and physiological mechanisms. Ex: phototropism and photoperiodism in plants Hibernation and migration in animals

Cooperative behavior within or between populations contributes to the survival of the populations. Ex: Mutualistic relationships

Living systems have a variety of signal behaviors or cues that produce changes in the behavior of other organisms and can result in differential reproductive success. Ex: Territorial marking in mammals

Animals use visual, audible, tactile, electrical and chemical signals to indicate dominance, find food, establish territory and ensure reproductive success. Bee dances Birds songs Territorial marking in mammals Pack behavior in animals Herd, flock, and schooling behavior in animals Predator warning

Animal Signals & Communication Chemical Communication: Pheromones – important in reproduction behavior Scents—important in marking territory or defense Auditory Communication (vocalization): Drosophila males produce a characteristic “song” by beating their wings, insects (innate, genetic) Mating songs in birds (innate & learned) Ask students know any examples of chemical communications such as: Many mammals, in particular, have glands that generate distinctive and long-lasting smells, and have corresponding behaviors that leave these smells in places where they have been. Often the scented substance is introduced into urine or feces. Bees carry with them a pouch of material from the hive which they release as they reenter, the smell of which indicates that they are a part of the hive and grants their safe entry. Ants use pheromones to create scent trails to food as well as for alarm calls, mate attraction and to distinguish between colonies. Additionally, they have pheromones that are used to confuse an enemy and manipulate them into fighting with each other. Male gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) give out longer but fewer calls in reaction to the calls of other males. In other words, when these frogs are chorusing full blast, a male seeking female attention will change the rhythm of his call to break out of the chorus. 

Natural selection favors innate and learned behaviors that increase survival and reproductive fitness. Parent and offspring interactions Migration patterns Courtship and mating behaviors Foraging in bees and other animals Avoidance behavior to electric fences, poisons, or traps

Cooperative behavior tends to increase the fitness of the individual and the survival of the population. • Pack behavior in animals • Herd, flock and schooling behavior in animals • Predator warning

Competitive Social Behaviors Often Represent Contests for Resources Cooperative behavior is when an animal invests resources in a common interest shared by other group members Agonistic behavior is made of a suite of three different divisions of behaviors: threats, aggression, and submission. Read more at Suite101: Agonistic Behavior: Understanding Competitive Behavior in Animals | Suite101.com http://suite101.com/article/agonistic-behavior-a136908#ixzz24wZueQI3 Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Competitive Social Behaviors Often Represent Contests for Resources Agonistic behavior is any social behavior that involves fighting, thus it is a contest involving threats. Agonistic behavior is made of a suite of three different divisions of behaviors: threats, aggression, and submission. Generally, no harm is done