ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Behavior…anything an animal does in response to a stimulus

INNATE BEHAVIOR Inherited behavior Instincts & reflexes Behavior an animal is born with EX: suckling; building nests, migrating, defending territory

Innate Behavior Taxis – animal moves toward or away from a stimulus Ex. Insect moving toward or away from light Positive light taxis

Innate Behavior REFLEX INSTINCT Automatic response to a stimulus Pulling your hand away from heat Jumping at a loud noise Something you are born knowing to do Building a nest suckling

Innate Behavior MIGRATION Moving to new location periodically (find food, mating partners) Based on seasons, rain

Innate Behavior HIBERNATION – dormant (sleep-like state) in winter Purpose????? Survive winters when there is little available food.

Innate Behavior ESTIVATION – dormancy during periods of extreme heat or drought Purpose??? conserve resources during extreme heat & droughtconditions EXAMPLES…frogs, bees, hedgehogs, reptiles, snails

Innate Behavior AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR Animal intimidates another Bird calling, growling, showing teeth To defend food supply, territory, or young

Innate Behavior TERRITORIALITY Defending an area from another organism Physical space used by an organism for feeding, breeding, or raising young Reduces conflicts, controls population growth, provides efficient use of resources

Innate Behavior PHEROMONES: chemicals that communicate information in other animals Ants, bees use them to communicate Urine contains pheromones Often used to mark territory

Humans mark their territory too!

Innate Behavior COURTSHIP Rituals carried out to attract mates Flashy dances, gestures, posturing, light signals Specific to each species Helps organisms find mates of their species

FIGHT OR FLIGHT Response to a perceived attack, harm, or threat to survival. Cats arch their backs at the smell of a rival; mice scurry at the scent of a fox

Social Behavior “pecking order” DOMINANCE HIERARCHY “pecking order” In social groups, there is a state of “seniority” Alpha males/females

Social Behavior Communication in social insects using pheromones. COMMUNICATION is both INNATE & LEARNED

Learned Behavior Acquired behavior Behavior changes through practice Trial & error Allows for adaptation to change; therefore important in survival

Learned Behavior TRIAL & ERROR Practice makes perfect Learn to exhibit a behavior based on a reward

Learned Behavior HABITUATION an animal becomes accustomed to a stimulus through prolonged and regular exposure Ex: you don’t notice a clock chiming in your house, the refrigerator or heat/air coming on; but you do when you’re at someone else’s house!

Learned Behavior IMPRINTING Learning based on early experience Bonding shortly after birth Once occurred, cannot be changed Keeps young animals close to mother who protects and feeds them

Learned Behavior CONDITIONING Learning by association Dogs or cats come to their food bowl when they hear the can opener Students change class when they hear bell