Animal Behavior An action or group of actions performed by an animal in response to some stimulus

Innate Behavior The behavior is known from birth and does not have to be learned Also known as instincts Examples: –Reflexes –Eating –Flight or Fight Response * Circadian rhythm: based on the 24 hour cycle of the day; light regulated; may determine when an animal sleeps and wakes

Learned Behavior Not known at birth, behavior changes as a result of experience or practice Types: Habituation, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Insight Imprinting: forms a social attachment to another object Ex: duckling following a mother duck

Habituation Simplest type of learning Animal stops responding to a stimulus to which it is repeatedly exposed to Ignoring a stimulus Example: Students and third period bells

Classical Conditioning Animal makes a mental connection between a stimulus and some kind of reward or punshiment Example: Cat and the sound of a can opener

Classical Condition (Pavlov’s Dog)

Operant Conditioning Animal learns to repeat behaviors that result in reward and avoid behaviors that result in punishment. Also known as trial and error Example: Good grades and performing well in school

Insight Learning Most complicated form of learning Occurs when an animal applies something it has already learned to a new situation. Example: Applying what you learned in math to science class

Social Behavior Any behavior between members of same species Examples: –Courtship: dating –Dominance Hierarchy: Queen Bee –Territorial: defends space, mate, or food

Migration, Estivation, and Hibernation Migration- instinctive, seasonal movement of animals Ex: birds migrate to south during winter Estivation- state of reduced metabolism that occurs in animals living in conditions of intense heat Hibernation- state in which the body temperature drops substantially, oxygen levels decrease, and breathing rates decline

Pheronomes Chemical Comminucators chemicals emitted by living organisms to send messages to individuals of the same species. Communication between organisms Use sights, sounds, smells, and touches Ex: lion roars when in danger; dog barking at an intruder