Behavioral Ecology Studies how behavior is controlled and how it develops, evolves, and contributes to an organisms survival and reproductive success.

Ethology: study of behavior Behavior: what an animal does and how it does it Behavior: what an animal does and how it does it Proximate questions: Proximate questions: How environmental stimuli trigger a response How environmental stimuli trigger a response Genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavior Genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavior Ultimate questions: Ultimate questions: Evolutionary concern about the behavior Evolutionary concern about the behavior Why does it increase survival and reproduction Why does it increase survival and reproduction

Fixed Action Plan (FAP): sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors - unchangeable (FAP): sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors - unchangeable Once initiated, it is usually carried to completion Once initiated, it is usually carried to completion A FAP: triggered by external sensory stimulus (sign stimulus) A FAP: triggered by external sensory stimulus (sign stimulus)

LE 51-4

Imprinting Irreversible learning Irreversible learning Occurs during a sensitive period during development Occurs during a sensitive period during development Innate: genetic Innate: genetic Environment provides imprinting stiumulus Environment provides imprinting stiumulus

Habituation Loss of responsiveness to unimportant stimuli Loss of responsiveness to unimportant stimuli

Behavior result from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors

Innate behavior: genetic factors

Signal and Phermones Signal: causes a change in anothers behavior Signal: causes a change in anothers behavior Communication: transmission, reception and response to signal Communication: transmission, reception and response to signal

Learning Experience based Experience based Change in behavior Change in behavior

Associative learning: recognizing that one stimulus is linked with another Classical conditioning Classical conditioning An autonomic response becomes associated with a novel stimulus An autonomic response becomes associated with a novel stimulus Innate stimulus (food) is linked to a learned stimulus (bell) Innate stimulus (food) is linked to a learned stimulus (bell)

Operant Conditioning A voluntary action becomes associated with its consequences A voluntary action becomes associated with its consequences an arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward or punishment an arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward or punishment Trial and error learning Trial and error learning

Social Behavior Natural selection favors behaviors that increase survival and reproductive success Natural selection favors behaviors that increase survival and reproductive success

Courtship and parental investment Parenting increase survivorship Parenting increase survivorship Selection of mates: ensures that favorable traits are passed to offsprings Selection of mates: ensures that favorable traits are passed to offsprings

Social interaction depend on communication Transmission, reception and response to signal Transmission, reception and response to signal Pheromones: chemical signal Pheromones: chemical signal

Altruism Decreases individual fitness, but increases the fitness of others Decreases individual fitness, but increases the fitness of others If related individuals help each other, its keep their gene in the population If related individuals help each other, its keep their gene in the population