Animal Behavior

Behavior An action carried out by muscle or glands in response to a stimulus – Controlled by the nervous system Anything an organism does and how it does it

Behavior Ecology “How” and “Why” Explanations Proximate Causes – How a behavior occurs Stimulus? Physiological response? Influence of growth and development on the response? Ultimate Causes – Why a behavior occurs Impact on survival and reproduction? Evolutionary history?

Behavior Requires Communication Communication involves a signal being sent and received – Chemical Signals Pheromones – Pheromone communication in ants – – Symbolic Signals Calls, gestures, etc. Increased in complexity and diversity over time – Honey Bee Waggle Dance –

Types of Behavior 1. Innate- under genetic control – Simple Directly linked to a simple stimulus Fixed Action Pattern – Triggered by a sign stimulus – Sequence of unlearned acts that once initiated, carried to completion – Male three-spined stickleback fish response to red bellies – – Complex Fixed set of behaviors in a specific order – Fruit Fly Mating Dance – – Orientation and Movement Kinesis – Change in activity in response to a stimulus – Pill bugs – increase activity in dry areas, decrease activity in humid areas (increase survival by leaving dry area) Taxis – Movement toward (positive taxis) or away from (negative taxis) some stimulus – River fish orient themselves upstream to keep themselves from being swept away by the current

Types of Behavior continued 2. Learned- requires experience – 5 types of learning: – 1. Imprinting Young animals have a critical period when behaviors can be learned Imprint on parents and learn basic behaviors of the species – Konrad Lorenz and imprinting – – 2. Spatial Establishment of a memory that reflects the environment’s spatial structure Remembering landmarks – Spatial Education of a mouse – – 3. Associative Connecting one environmental feature with another – Color and bad taste – Skinner and Operant Conditioning Skinner and Operant Conditioning – Trick Mouse Trick Mouse

– 4. Cognition Process of knowing represented by awareness, reasoning, recollection, and judgment Problem solving Most complex form of learning – Chimpanzee problem solving – – 5. Social Learning through observation and interaction Children imitating parent behaviors

Behavior Evolves Nature vs. Nurture Behavior and genetics – Some genes regulate certain behaviors Examples – Courtship behaviors in fruit flies – Migratory patterns in birds Behavior and the environment – Environmental constraints determine fitness of certain behaviors Examples: – Foraging behaviors – minimum energy, maximum yield – Parental influence – learned behaviors have to be taught Behavior and reproductive success – Sexual Selection – Parental Care Altruism – Any behavior that increases the fitness of others while decreasing one’s own fitness Warning calls when predators appear

Animal Behavior as Educational Entertainment What happens when you combine African Animals and Fermentation? Impact on the nervous system? U0 U0