Ch 35 Behavioral Biology Goals Define behavioral ecology. Explain & give examples of the following kinds of animal behavior: Instinct Fixed action patterns (FAP) Imprinting Associative learning & classical conditioning Trial & error learning (operant conditioning) Habituation Observational learning Insight Explain the reason for migration and list the 3 ways organisms know where to go. Social behavior: Discuss how each of the following competitive social behaviors helps organisms survive & give examples: Agonsitic Dominance hierarchies Territoriality Explain the purpose of courtship behaviors & why females are so picky about the mates they chose. Describe altruistic behavior & give an example. Communication: List 3 modes of communication among organisms & 2 reasons why organisms communicate.

Ch 35 Behavioral Biology Behavior – what an animal does & how it does it Behavioral ecology – research approach based on expectation that animals increase their Darwinian fitness by optimal behavior. Darwinian fitness – the relative contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation.

Innate Behavior Instinct; determined by genes Developmentally fixed – same behavior despite env differences inside & outside their bodies Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) – a sequence of behaviors, unchangable & carried to completion Triggered by sign stimulus Ex: moths fold wings in response to ultrasonic signals of bats Ex: bird with egg rolling out of nest How do these work to enhance fitness?

Learning Experience based modification of behavior Most innate behaviors improve w/ experience (flying / developmental…) Habituation – simple type of learning – loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no info Ex: hydra stop contracting tentacles when touched repeatedly w/ out any danger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfu0FAAu-10&feature=related Imprinting – learning limited to a critical time Ex: zebras, geese, language, mate recognition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGBqQyZid04

Learning Associative Learning – animals learn to associate 1 stimulus w/ another 2 types: Classical conditioning – irrelevant stim associated w/ a physiological response (ex: bell/salivate) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP5lCleK-PM Operant conditioning – trial & error learning / associate behavior w/ a reward or punishment (ex: quills of porcupine…) (skinner) Play – practices survival behavior, establishes social rules, gives exercise

Insight Correct behavior on 1st attempt “wow – that’s big! I better stay away even though I don’t know what it is!”

Movement from place to place often depends on internal coding of spatial relationships Cognitive maps – mental maps of spatial relationships. Ex: bees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ijI-g4jHg 2 types of movement w/ out cognitive maps: Kinesis – random movement & then change in activity rate in response to a stimulus if present Taxis – automatic movement toward or away from a stimulus (phototaxis – move away from light)

Migration Behavior Regular movement over long distances – usually in response to decrease in food supply http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYM6LqDJLiM 3 mechanisms used to find way Piloting Orientation navigation

Social Behavior Working together helps the entire species survive Competitive social behaviors: Agonistic – involves threatening & submissive behaviors to determine who gets resources (Ex: wolves putting chin under others) Benefits of this? Winner established w/ out fighting or death Dominance Hierarches – rank Ex: chickens – determines who gets resources w/ out hurt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg1RPCfcGZs&feature=related Territory – an area defended usually excluding other members of own species. Benefits? Cuts down on competition, keeps population stable, benefits outweigh E costs of defending

Mating Behavior Relates directly to animals fitness Courtship – sequence of actions that confirms: Same species but opposite sex In appropriate physiological condition Not a threat Moonwalking bird below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=072A5xbhO3I&feature=related Mating dance… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dx2CUMtZ-0&feature=related Parental Investment – time & resources an individual must expend to produce offspring Choose wisely to make it worth it / genetic quality Females mammals picky b/c they have high investment / males usually have pronounced 2ndary sex characteristics due to this Mating systems…

Modes of Communication Pheromones – chemicals used to communicate Inclusive fitness – total effect an individual has on passing its genes by having offspring & helping close relatives to have offspring Kin selection – the more closely related the more strongly you’ll defend them Altruistic behavior – behaviors that reduce individual fitness but increase others fitness Ex: alarm calls, sterile bees, stinging worker bees die after stinging