A NIMAL B EHAVIOR Ch ; 40.2

Ethology: the study of behavior How is this happening? Proximate causation-how a behavior occurs Genetic basis, physiologic, innate response to a stimulus Why is this happening? Ultimate causation- why a behavior occurs Finding food, regulating temperature, courtship/mating, communication

What is behavior? an action carried out by muscles under control of the nervous system in response to a stimulus (based on physiological systems and processes) everything an organism does and how it does it, response to stimuli in the environment essential for survival and reproduction and subject to natural selection purpose may include communication with other organisms examples: songbirds, courtship, scent marking, hunting, maintain homeostasis, migration etc.

Behavioral stimuli may be.. Environmental Hormonal sign (color, object, another organism) Scent circadian rhythms (daily behavior cycles triggered by light and dark) physiologic (internal)

A NIMAL C OMMUNICATION signal: stimulus from one organism to another communication: reception of signals may be visual, chemical, tactile, auditory, pheromones communication/behaviors are closely related to an organisms lifestyle and environment (will determine the type of communication used)

Innate behaviors all individuals in a population exhibit the same behavior despite environment/lifestyle differences automatic, fixed, “built in” response triggered by a stimulus example: migration, hibernation Learned behaviors modification of a behavior based on experiences triggered by a stimulus but variable social learning- learning through observing others associative learning-associate one environmental feature with another classical conditioning (stimulus associated with outcome— positive/negative reinforcement) Pavlov’s dogs operant conditioning (trial and error learning) Push lever to get food (mice) example: tool usage, hunting techniques

Homeostasis-maintaining internal balance organisms behavior will change in an effort to maintain balance either internally or with the environment negative feedback: reduces the stimulus (returning to a normal state) temperature regulation, insulin/glucose balance in blood positive feedback: amplifies the stimulus (takes farther from normal state) labor/birth carbon emissions and global warming

Taxis: change in direction, move away from (negative) or toward (positive) a stimulus (directional) Chemotaxis (chemical) Phototaxis (light) Kinesis: change in rate of movement in response to a stimulus (non-directional) Like stimulus (move slowly) Dislike stimulus—agitated (move quickly) Social Behaviors: interactions between individuals (evolutionary adaptations) language, dominance, altruism, cooperation, imprinting Habituation: loss of response to stimulus

V IDEOS Birds of Paradise qopo qopo Honey Bees UsU UsU Sage Grouse lnI lnI Monkeys and tool usage (life series)