Animal Behavior Zoology LS2014 Spring 2008 Donald Winslow

Approaches to Animal Behavior Comparative Psychology Ethology--adaptation Behavioral Ecology Sociobiology Evolution of Behavior Neurobiologyphysiological mechanisms

Adaptive benefit of behavior Camouflaged Worm-eating Warbler nest

Development of Behavior Environmental influences Sensitive periods Innate behavior

Evolution of behavior Behavioral geneticspolygenic inheritance Adaptation Inclusive fitnessincludes fitness of relatives Evolutionarily stable strategies

Evolution of social behavior Sexual selection Altruism Mating systems Social structure

Mechanisms of behavior Nervous system –Neurons –Sensory receptors –Hormones Sensory perception –Chemoreception and thermoreception –Mechanoreceptors and hearing –Vision and echolocation

Physiology and behavior Acclimatization Biological clocks Hormones and reproductive behavior Hibernation Migration Lunar rhythms Circadian rhythms

Animal learning Psychological approach Ivan Pavlovs dogs Conditioning –Acquisition –Habituation Reinforcement –Positive reinforcement –Negative reinforcement

Biological aspects of learning Evolutionary constraints on learning Stimulus relevance Cognitive aspects of learning

Instinct Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen Releasing mechanism Imprinting Displacement activities Communication Conflict

Decision-making Karl von Frischs honeybees –Foraging –Flower recognition –Communication Evolutionary optimality –Optimal foraging –Trade-offs –Time and energy budgets

Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Mentality of animals Language and mental representation –Non-verbal communication in humans –Teaching apes and parrots to converse Intelligence, tool use, and culture –Comparative intelligence –Tool use –Culture

Animal awareness and emotion Self-awareness Consciousness –Donald Griffin: mental images and intention Fear and suffering