AG-ASB- 10 i, j, k EQ: How do animals behave socially? Social Behavior AG-ASB- 10 i, j, k EQ: How do animals behave socially?

Ethology The study of how animals behave in their natural habitat

Categories of animal behavior Instinctive Most basic behavior Set in an animal at birth and causes the animal to respond automatically to an environmental stimulus Learned Imprinting Intelligence – ability to learn Conditioning – Pavlov Theory

Gregarious The tendency to want to want to stay together in a group Sheep Cattle Fish Rabbits

Pecking order The ability to exert social influence or pressure over others in the group Pigs – each piglet has a particular teat it will nurse on Animals are separated in terms of feeding because otherwise the dominant animals would eat everything

Dominance If two males are present, they will fight to determine dominance. The strongest and most vigorous male will breed the females. Deer Bulls Chickens

Sexual and Reproductive Behavior Estrus - the period of heat or rut; the period of maximum sexual receptivity of the female. When ovulation is occuring Mount or ride other animals. Males become more aggressive toward other animals and humans Most sexual and reproductive behavior exhibited in animals is instinctive.

Mother’s behavior after birth She most always becomes more aggressive and protective of her young. This is natures way of protecting the young from predators. Imprinting/ Orphans A sow will accept an orphan pig if she has an open teat Cows and sheep do not accept orphans readily.