Ch51 Behavior Ecology

Behavioral ecology is the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior

A fixed action pattern a sequence of unlearned, innate behaviors that is unchangeable Once initiated, it is usually carried to completion triggered by an external cue, a sign stimulus

NZv-ByPkU Fixed Action Pattern in Geese: – If an egg is taken from them they will not stop until it is returned, ‘head bobbing motion’ to roll egg back to nest.

What role does the environment play in signaling? Phototropism – growth of a plant towards (+) or away (-) from light orn/cornworship.html

Sunflowers track the sun Why?

Circadian Rhythms Process that follows a routine 24 hour cycle What is the signal?

Photoperiodism A physiological response to the relative lengths of day and night

Brain makes melatonin When there is less light, the SCN tells the brain to make more melatonin so you get drowsy.

Melatonin controls sleep

Jet lag What is the signal?

Monarch Migration The navigation of the fall migration of the Monarchs to their overwintering grounds in central Mexico uses a "sun compass" that depends upon a circadian clock in their antennae. =x0m_rK_WpjQ

Animal Signals and Communication signal is a behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior Communication is the transmission and reception of signals

Fruit fly courtship courtship courtship

Figure (a) Worker bees (b) Round dance (food near) (c) Waggle dance (food distant) Location ALocation BLocation C Beehive A B C 30  Waggle Dance A bee returning from the field performs a dance to communicate information about the distance and direction of a food source eirdest-bees-dance

Nature vs. Nuture what behaviors are genetically based and what is learned (Nature vs. Nurture) Serial Killer, Ted Bundy Is a serial killer born that way?

Cross-fostering Exp CA mice: aggressive, lots parental care White-footed mice: less aggressive, little parental care Table 39.2 What can you conclude? Nature vs Nuture? Dogs Decoded: At 31 Minutes:

Prey Selection Coastal populations feed mostly on banana slugs, while inland populations rarely eat banana slugs Studies have shown >60% Coastal snakes ate the banana slugs, <20% of inland snakes did Figure What can you conclude? Nature vs Nuture? Cross-fostering Exp

Genetics or Environment? Twin Studies -Compare identical twins raised apart vs twins raised together

Learning the modification of behavior based on specific experiences Imprinting – the establishment of a long-lasting behavioral response to a particular individual during a specific time in development, the sensitive period Figure 39.17a (a) Konrad Lorenz and geese

Conservation efforts Young whooping cranes can imprint on humans in “crane suits” who then lead crane migrations using ultralight aircraft Figure 39.17b (b) Pilot and cranes

Spatial learning digger wasps use landmarks to find nest entrances Figure Experiment Pinecone Results Nest No nest co.uk/salmon/year1/psy128 ethology_experiments/wasp _learning_activity.htm

Associative Learning Figure Blue Jay learns that Monarchs will cause them to vomit

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov's Dogs)

OPERANT CONDITIONING Involves "training" a behavior using a reward or punishment system. Skinner Box

Mating Systems and Parental Care Monogamous vs Polygamous? Is paternal care crucial for survival of offspring? Certainty of paternity?

Altruism Natural selection favors behavior that maximizes an individual’s survival and reproduction – selfish some animals behave in ways that reduce their individual fitness but increase the fitness of others - altruism

Inclusive fitness & Kin selection natural selection that favors this kind of altruistic behavior by enhancing reproductive success of relatives Ex: Belding ground squirrels – alarm call when predators nearby Naked mole rats – in colonies of 75+, only one queen and 3 kings do all the reproduction

Hamilton’s rule Natural selection favors altruism when rB  C This inequality is called Hamilton’s rule Would you risk your life to save your brother/sister?

Yes! Assume the average individual has two children. As a result of the sister’s action – The brother can now father two children, so B  2 – The sister has a 25% chance of dying and not being able to have two children, so C  0.25  2  0.5 – The brother and sister share half their genes on average, so r  0.5 If the sister saves her brother, rB (  1)  C (  0.5) Figure Parent A Parent B Sibling 1 Sibling 2 ½ (0.5) probability OR ½ (0.5) probability