Overview of Animal Behavior Section 20.4

Introduction Dogs sitting on command and cats trying to catch a mouse are examples of animal behavior. Animal behavior – includes all the ways that animals interact with each other and the environment.

Studying Animal Behavior Ethology – branch of biology that studies animal behavior. They usually try to answer four questions: What causes the behavior? How does the behavior develop? Why did the behavior evolve? How did the behavior evolve? What is the stimulus, or trigger, for the behavior? What structures and functions of the animal are involved in the behavior? Is it present early in life? Or does it appear only as the animal matures? Are certain experiences needed for the behavior to develop? How does the behavior affect the fitness of the animal performing it? How does it affect the survival of the species? How does it compare with similar behaviors in related species? In what ancestor did the behavior first appear?

What is Behavior? The actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli. A stimulus is any phenomenon that directly influences the activity or growth of a living organism. Stimulus – loud noise, cold, something flying at you, something hot

Evolution of Animal Behavior Depending on whether behaviors are controlled by genes, they may evolve through natural selection. If the behavior increases fitness, it may become more common. If the behavior decreases fitness, it will most likely be less common.

Nature vs. Nurture Some behaviors are controlled completely by genes. Others are due to experiences and environment. Nature-nurture debate – debate over the extent to which genes (nature) or experiences in a given environment (nurture) control traits such as animal behaviors. Example: dogs- are they mean because of genetics or how they were raised and treated

Innate Behaviors Innate behavior – behaviors controlled by genes with little environmental influence An innate behavior is a simple behavior that is inherited by an animal. An animal can perform the behavior correctly the first time it is attempted. There are two categories of innate behaviors: Reflexes Instincts

Reflexes A reflex is a specific reaction of one specific body part in response to a stimulus. Examples: Pulling hand away from hot pan Jumping when door slams Closing/squinting eyes when light is bright Flinching if something is coming at you The same reaction occurs every time the stimulus is present

Instincts More complex behaviors that involve most of the body. Once an instinctual behavior is started, it must be carried out to completion. Examples: Shivering when cold Fight or Flight Response Grey Goose egg rolling Dog drooling when there is food When a goose sees and egg outside the nest she goes into egg-retrieval mode.

Examples of Innate Behavior

Significance of Innate Behavior Innate behaviors are predictable. All members of the same species perform these behaviors the same. These include basic life functions such as finding food or caring for offspring. If an animal did not perform these behaviors correctly they probably would not survive.

Learned Behaviors Learning – a change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience. Learned behaviors are more flexible. There are several types of learned behaviors: Imprinting Habituation Classical Conditioning Operant Conditioning Insight

Learned Behaviors

Imprinting Fine tuning of mostly instinctual behaviors. Must take place within a certain period of development or cannot be learned. Examples: Duck Following Bird Songs Human Language

Habituation Becoming familiar with a stimulus until it no longer triggers a response. Examples: Moving Routines Comfort Scarecrow

Classical Conditioning Learning by association. Ivan Pavlov has most famous classical conditioning experiment. Training dogs with treats

Operant Conditioning Trial and Error Learning. Examples: Learning to shoot a basketball or ride a bike. Learning to talk Infant & toddler toys

Video

Overview of Animal Behavior: Part 2 Section 20.4

Insight / Reasoning Learning from previous experience. Usually follows trial and error. Examples:

Social Behavior and Cooperation Society – when animals live together in a close-knit group with other members of their species. Social animals – animals that live in a society. Cooperation – animals live and work together for the good of the group. This allows the group to do things that a single animal couldn’t do.

Cooperation

Communication For organisms to cooperate, they need to communicate. Language is the most complicated form of communication. Language combines sounds, symbols and gestures according to sets of rules for syntax. Other animals use systems to communicate, but humans are the only ones that effectively use language. Examples: sounds (birds sing, frogs croak) , chemicals (ants mark trails to food with pheromones)(dogs mark territory with urine), visual cues (facial expressions)

Communication

Cyclic Behaviors Some animals have behaviors that cycle daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. Migration  movement from one area to another and back Usually for feeding and/or breeding Circadian Rhythms  daily sleep and wake cycles affected by sunlight (24 hour cycle) Seasonal affective disorder Hibernation – shutting down body systems in response to cold to conserve energy with lack of food.

Aggression Aggression – behavior that is intended to cause harm or pain. Can be violent or just a display. Example: Gorillas Gorillas can either fight physically using their canine teeth to inflict wounds or they can just beat on their chest, dash back and forth or pound the ground in displays of aggression

Competition Animals have developed behaviors as a result of competition: Territoriality Aggression Jealousy – “selfish gene” There are two types of competition: Intraspecific Competition – between members of the same species Interspecific Competition – between member of different species Examples: two male deer competes for a mate or one ant species taking over the colony of another ant species.

Mating & Courtship Most social behaviors revolve around finding a mate with the “best” genes to create the most “fit” children. The male must impress the female because she has more vested in producing the offspring.

Courtship Sounds – bird songs, crickets chirping, frogs croaking, etc.

Courtship Visual Displays - colors

Courtship Visual Displays - dances

Courtship Chemical Signals – pheromones A chemical an animal produces which changes the behavior of another animal of the same species Ants use chemicals to make the path to food Dogs use pheromones in urine to mark territory

Parental Care In some species parents provide no care to their offspring. Examples: fish, reptiles, amphibians Most often the mother provides the care. In some species both parents or just the father may be involved. Generally longest for mammals.