What are Inherited and learned behaviors? Chapter 4 Lesson 2

Why it Matters……. This chimpanzee is eating termites. The chimp got the termites by putting the stick into the termite mound. The chimp learned how to do this.

Inherited behavior A bird flies south for the winter. An elephant splashes water on itself. You comb your hair. These are behaviors in living things. Many behaviors must be learned. Other behaviors are inherited. An inherited behavior is a behavior that an organism is born with and does not need to learn.

Inherited behavior A complex pattern of behavior that organisms of the same type are born with is called an instinct. Orb spiders are born with an instinct to make a certain web. Grosbeak weaver birds are born with an instinct to build a particular nest without being taught how to do it. Many birds are born with an instinct to migrate, or move to another area, when the weather gets colder and food becomes scarce.

Learned Behavior A behavior that is taught or learned from experience is a learned behavior. For example, if you enjoy riding a bike, someone probably taught you how to ride the bike.

Learned Behavior People are not the only animals that learn different behaviors. Chimpanzees learn from other chimpanzees how to use sticks to get termites to eat. Rats and other animals can learn from experience how to avoid traps in their search for food. Learning different behaviors can help organisms survive. As animals interact with their environment, they can learn new behaviors.

Learned Behavior Young children and animals learn many behaviors from the adults around them. How do you hold a pencil? How did you learn to read? It is likely that you learned these and other behaviors from adults that you interact with. How does a young tiger learn to hunt? It learns to hunt by watching how adult tigers around it hunt.

BrainPop Movie http://www.brainpop.com/science/ecologya ndbehavior/behavior/

What ARE Inherited and Learned Behavior? Complete your drawing conclusions graphic organizer using the following statements: A spider makes its web without being taught how to do it. Rats learn from experience how to avoid traps in their search for food. A bird makes its nest without being taught how to do it. Chimpanzees learn from other chimpanzees how to use sticks to get termites to eat. A behavior that an organism is born with and does not need to learn. A behavior that an organism is taught or learns from experience.

Review Questions: Use pages A100-A103 to help you answer the questions.