Animal Behavior - Types 2 Types of Behavior Innate (Nature): instinct and genes determine behavior Learned (Nurture): experience and learning influence behavior

Animal Behavior - Types - Innate Components of Innate Behavior Fixed action pattern (FAP) all or none response - once started must be performed to completion Releaser - stimulus that causes release of FAP

Learned Behavior A change in behavior that results from experience The four major types: Habituation classical conditioning operant conditioning insight learning

Habituation  The animal decreases or stops response to a repetitive stimulus that neither rewards nor harms it. Example - a worm may stop responding a to shadow if it neither hurts nor helps it

Classical/Pavlovian Conditioning The animal makes a mental connection between a stimulus and some kind of reward or punishment.

Classical/Pavlovian Conditioning Ivan Pavlov taught his dog to expect food whenever a bell was rung. Pavlov’s experiment is an example of classical conditioning, one of the four major types of learning.

Classical/Pavlovian Conditioning Ivan Pavlov taught his dog to expect food whenever a bell was rung. Pavlov’s experiment is an example of classical conditioning, one of the four major types of learning.

Classical/Pavlovian Conditioning Ivan Pavlov taught his dog to expect food whenever a bell was rung. Pavlov’s experiment is an example of classical conditioning, one of the four major types of learning.

Operant Conditioning also called trial-and-error learning. The animal learns to behave in a certain way through repeated practice, in order to receive a reward or avoid punishment. also called trial-and-error learning. First described by B. F. Skinner. Know about Skinner and the “Skinner box.”

Insight learning Also called reasoning. The animal applies prior knowledge to a new situation, without trial and error. common in humans and other primates.

Imprinting learning during a critical period during development Once imprinting occurs, the behavior cannot be changed.

Imprinting Examples - Many Birds learn that the first things they see move are their parents salmon learn their home stream’s scent as they swim downstream birds learn their song during a short critical period (if a bird does not hear the proper song during this time it will never learn it correctly)

Imprinting Sexual imprinting - Learning to recognize members of one`s own species - sometimes individuals raised by another species will attempt to mate with foster species as adult

Imprinting Importance of understanding imprinting in conservation biology - must minimize/eliminate human presence while raising endangered species for re-release