Animal Behavior Chapter 33

Behavior-the way an animal acts -is genetic -is important to survival -should be flexible (change with the environment)

2 Important Parts: -stimulus- causes a response in an organism -response- reaction to a stimulus Ex. stimulus-mouse moves in the grass response-owl attacks mouse

Innate Behavior -is an instinct, non-learned -inborn -is built into an animal’s nervous system -does not change during an animal’s lifetime Ex. nursing at birth, web building, nest building, courting, crying, coughing

Reflex A simple, automatic response to a stimulus that involves no conscious control (touching a hot object)

Fight or Flight Response Mobilizes the body for greater activity

Communication Passing information from one animal to another

Why communicate? Choosing mates/courtship

Locate food

Warn of danger

How to communicate: Visually Colorful bodies Sound Chemical signals (pheromones) Electrical signals

Special Behaviors Circadian Rhythms: -Biological processes that occur over a 24 hour period “Internal biological clock” ex. awake during the day, asleep at night -shift workers confuse their circadian rhythms, jet lag

Reproduction Courting behaviors (ex. singing in birds, croaking in frogs, spreading feathers in peacocks, neck flapping in lizards, chemicals (pheromones…..odors))

Finding Food Ex. “Talking” / “Dancing” in bees, spiders building webs)

Protection Ex. wolves living in packs, buffalo living in herds, adults surround young

Migration Instinctive, seasonal movement of animals -controlled by day length -climate changes, mating, food -navigate by sun and stars, geographic clues, Earth’s magnetic field

Hibernation Period of inactivity during cold winter months -body temperature drops -oxygen consumption decreases -breathing rates decline -it conserves energy -squirrels, chipmunks

Estivation State of reduced metabolism that occurs in animals living in conditions of intense heat -desert animals

Territory A physical space an animal defends against other members of its species Ex. -selecting an appropriate territory has survival value

Aggressive Behavior Used to intimidate another animal of the same species, usually does not end in death Ex. bird calling, teeth baring, growling)

Parental Behavior Adults care for young, providing food, protection, and warmth. Very important for the survival of small litters

Learned Behavior -must be taught -must be practiced -can be changed -accomplished through experiences Ex. writing, driving

Habituation Decrease in a response to a stimulus (ex. Birds with shadows overhead, horses)

Classical Conditioning Making a mental connection between a stimulus and a good or bad event Ex. Using can food opener to feed dogs, raising hand to hit someone….they flinch) Pavlov’s dogs

Operant Conditioning Trial and error. Behave a certain way to receive a reward Ex. Bird eats a colored butterfly, and it gets sick….it won’t eat that kind of butterfly again

Insight Learning Applying previous knowledge (reasoning) to a new situation Ex. Driver’s education…..driving many different cars, then driving a 4wheeler or jet ski, learning math in school) -primates do this!

Imprinting An animal, at a critical time of its life, forms a social attachment to another object Ex. Duckling following its mother

Only humans use language.