1. Animal Behavior Chapter 45

2. Animal Behavior 2Definition Behavior - observable and coordinated responses to environmental stimuli

3. Animal Behavior 3 Genetics Basis Nature (inherited) versus nurture (environmental) questions are still debated  Genes influence development of neural and hormonal mechanisms controlling behavior  Studies on identical twins separated at birth ­Can be used to determine extent of inherited behavior ­Sometimes remarkably similar in preferences, taste, personality tests, etc. Sometimes not

4. Animal Behavior 4 Behavioral Ecology We expect natural selection to attempt to maximize the Darwinian fitness associated with the traits possessed by organisms Behaviors that reduce Darwinian fitness decrease in gene pool – leaving the “best” behaviors Yes, genetics is an underlying component of behavior but the ability to learn complicates the behavioral evolution

5. Animal Behavior 5 Ultimate Causation vs Proximate Causation Ultimate Causation – “why” does the behavior exist? Proximate Causation – “how” does the behavior work? Mechanics involved (stimuli preception and reaction)

6. Animal Behavior 6 Example: Bluegill Sunfish Behavior – breeding occurs in late spring/early summer Proximate cause – increased daylight stimulates fish’s pineal gland (accumulation of hormone) Ultimate cause – most successful hatching rate in warm water when food supply plentiful

7. Animal Behavior 7 March of Penguins Lots of examples!!

8. Animal Behavior 8 Chapter 45 in Mader

9. Animal Behavior 9 Behavioral Concepts EthologyLearning Finding One’s Way Finding Food Fighting Finding Sex Cooperation

10. Animal Behavior 10Expectations PPT to complete guide notes Definition – Explanation – Examples Video clip for example(s)

11. 11 Nest Building Behavior in Lovebirds

12. 12 Feeding Behavior in Garter Snakes

13. Animal Behavior 13 Behavior Undergoes Development Some behaviors seem to be stereotyped  Fixed Action Patterns (FAP’s) ­Originally assumed to be elicited by a sign stimulus ­Increasingly thought to develop after practice

14. Animal Behavior 14 The Phenomenon of Learning Operant Conditioning  Gradual strengthening of stimulus-response corrections  Trick-training in birds Imprinting  Imitate behavior observed during sensitive period  Goslings follow any moving object after birth

15. Animal Behavior 15 The Phenomenon of Learning Song Learning in Birds  Avian brain is especially sensitive to acoustical stimuli during a sensitive period  Social experience appears to have an even stronger influence over development of singing

16. 16 Pecking Behavior in Laughing Gulls

17. 17 Classical Conditioning

18. Animal Behavior 18 Behavior Is Adaptive Sexual selection - Adaptive changes in females and males that lead to differential reproductive success

19. 19 Raggiana Bird of Paradise

20. Animal Behavior 20 Female Choice Courtship displays help males and females recognize each other for successful mating  Good Genes Hypothesis ­Females benefit from selective choice by securing sperm with good genes  Run-Away Hypothesis ­Females choose mates on the basis of traits that make them attractive to females

21. Animal Behavior 21 Male Competition Is access to mating is worth the cost of competition among males  Question is studied by cost-benefit analyses  Do positive effects (benefits) outweigh negative effects (costs)? ­If yes  The behavior is evolutionarily stable  The behavior will survive or increase ­If no  The behavior is evolutionarily UNstable  The behavior will decrease or disappear

22. Animal Behavior 22 Dominance Hierarchy Males and females have separate dominance hierarchies Higher-ranking individuals have greater access to essential resources  Baboons form temporary consort pairs with females ­Males may monopolize estrous females ­Or may assist females or form friendship groups to secure future matings

23. 23 A Male Olive Baboon Displaying Full Threat

24. Animal Behavior 24Territoriality Territoriality is protecting an area against other individuals  Red Deer Stags (males) compete for groups of hinds (females)  Hinds only mate with one stag  Harem Master must be large and powerful to fight off challengers ­Means less body fat ­May be more likely to starve in bad times, and have shorter life expectancy

25. 25 Competition Between Male Red Deer

26. 26 King Hussein and Family

27. Animal Behavior 27 Animal Societies Society - a cooperative organization that extends beyond sexual and parental interests

28. 28 The Queen Ant

29. Animal Behavior 29 Altruism versus Self-Interest Altruism  Behavior that involves a reduction in direct fitness  Loss may be compensated by an increase in indirect fitness Inclusive fitness includes  Reproductive fitness of self, and  Reproductive fitness of relatives Genetic relatedness may underlie many/most acts of apparent altruism

30. 30 Inclusive Fitness

31. Animal Behavior 31 Communicative Behavior  Chemical ­Pheromones designate chemical signals that are passed between members of the same species Auditory  Faster than chemical communication  Can be modified by loudness, pattern, repetition, and duration Visual  Used by species active during the day ­Contests between males make use of threat postures ­Saves energy by avoiding fighting

32. 32 Use of a Pheromone

33. 33 A Chimpanzee With a Researcher

34. Animal Behavior 34 Communicative Behavior Tactile  Occurs when one animal touches another ­Gull chicks peck at the parent’s beak in order to induce the parent to feed them ­Foraging honeybees  Return to the hive and perform a waggle dance  Indicates the distance and direction of a food source

35. 35 Grooming Among Baboons

36. 36 Communication Among Bees

37. Animal Behavior 37 Sociobiology and Animal Behavior Sociobiology  Applies the principles of evolutionary biology to the study of behavior in animals  Assumes individuals derive benefits from living in a society that outweigh costs ­Advantages include  reproductive success  Predator avoidance  Assistance in rearing offspring  Finding food

38. Animal Behavior 38 Sociobiology and Animal Behavior Societal Disadvantages  Crowding ­Resource allocation ­Spread of disease

39. Animal Behavior 39 Nest Helpers Green Wood-hoopoes  One breeding pair per flock ­Other sexually mature members may help feed and protect fledglings and protect the home territory ­Helper is contributing to survival of its own kin ­Helper is more likely than nonhelper to inherit parental territory

40. Animal Behavior 40Outline Nature versus Nurture: Genetic Influences Nature versus Nurture: Environmental Influences  Learning Adaptive Mating Behavior  Female Choice  Male Competition  Dominance Hierarchy  Territoriality  Animal Communication Sociobiology and Animal Behavior Altruism versus Self-Interest

41. Animal Behavior Ending Slide Chapter 45