Animal Behavior Chapter 37

Animal Behavior Basically Stimulus and Response Link to Your Genes & Culture Remember the Pillbugs

a) Proximate Cause Ex: Digger wasp Immediate interaction with environment Identifies the “HOW” –Locate nest via landmarks Still examine the “WHY” –Reproductive Success

b) Innate Behavior Behavior involves combo of GENETICS & EXPERIENCE. Innate => FAP (Fixed Action Pattern) Basically Stimulus (“Sign Stimulus”) & Response –EX: Graylag goose and Egg retrieval –Goose can only perform the FAP as a whole sequence

Types of Learning: Learning = Innate Behavior + Experience Table p ) Habituation: organism learns not to respond to repeated stimulus. –Ex: Scarecrow

Learning Cont’d 2) Imprinting: learning limited to specific time period of organism’s life (“sensitive period”) Sensitive period varies with species –Ex: offspring “knowing” its parents Both Innate (Genes) & Learned Behavior –Innate = ability to imprint during period –Learned = actual imprinting

Learning Cont’d 3) Associative Learning Recall the “Skinner box” –Lever / food Ex: Trial-and-error Learning –When an organism links a behavioral act with a positive or negative effect.

Learning Cont’d 4) Imitation Ex: Jaguar cub hunting with Mother Basic hunting practices NOT limited to sensitive period _KsDYTA&feature=relatedhttp:// _KsDYTA&feature=related

Learning Cont’d 5) Problem Solving Nervous system active in information processing. Ex: Chimp using stick for “termite fishing” Akwchttp:// Akwc

Self-Consciousness Consciousness = awareness of self within an environment. Anthropomorphism = ascribing human emotion / motivations to animals pc_M2qI74&feature=relatedhttp:// pc_M2qI74&feature=related S8BBZE&feature=relatedhttp:// S8BBZE&feature=related

Ecology & Learning Behavior is AN EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATION!!! Circadian Rhythms link Behavior & Environment –Sleep / wake cycles influenced heavily by amounts of light / lack of light.

Ecology & Learning Humans have 25 hour sleep cycle Cluster of neurons in hypothalamus (suprachiasmatic nucleus) is Bio. Clock Gene Expression Clocks: –Stimulus -> Gene-> Priotein Follini experiment identified how Physiological Features are impacted by Circadian rhythms

Social Behavior Feeding Behaviors linked to energy gain & energy expenditure. Migration & Feeding in Lg groups. Ex include: aggression, courtship, cooperation, & communication. W9LnT4&feature=relatedhttp:// W9LnT4&feature=related

Social Behavior Ritual – exaggerated posture / display used to contest access to resources. –Ex: Arm Wrestle Affects Ind. Evolutionary fitness Used to deal with future conflicts / encounters –“Agonistic Behavior”

Social Behavior Dominance Hierarchy Ranking of individuals based on social interactions Common in vertebrate populations Fixed rank for several months –Ex: Wolves, hens, chimpanzees