1. Animal Behavior

2. Genetic Basis
Behavior - observable and coordinated responses to environmental stimuli
Nature (inherited) versus Nurture (environmental) questions are still debated

3. Nest Building Behavior in Lovebirds
Studies with lovebirds (Fischer & Peach-faced) support the hypothesis that behavior has a genetic basis.

4. Feeding Behavior in Garter Snakes
A genetic difference between the two populations of snakes results in a physiological difference

5. Genetic Basis Nature vs Nurture
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.

6. 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

7. Pecking Behavior in Laughing Gulls

8. The Phenomenon of Learning
Operant Conditioning
Gradual strengthening of stimulus-response corrections
Trick-training in birds

9. The Phenomenon of Learning
Imprinting
Imitate behavior observed during sensitive period
Goslings follow any moving object after birth

10. 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

11. Classical Conditioning

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

13. 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

14. 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 - behavior is evolutionarily stable;behavior will survive or increase
If no - behavior is evolutionarily Unstable; behavior will decrease or disappear

15. 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

16. A Male Olive Baboon Displaying Full Threat
Dominance Hierarchy
A Male Olive Baboon Displaying Full Threat

17. Territoriality
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

18. Adaptive Mating Behavior
Evolution by Sexual Selection occurs when:
females have the opportunity to select among potential mates and/or
when males compete among themselves for access to reproductive females

19. Competition Between Male Red Deer

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

21. Sociobiology and Animal Behavior
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

22. Altruism versus Self-Interest
Behavior that involves a reduction in direct fitness
Loss may be compensated by an increase in indirect fitness

23. Inclusive Fitness Inclusive Fitness includes:
Reproductive fitness of self, and
Reproductive fitness of relatives
Genetic relatedness may underlie many/most acts of apparent altruism

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

25. Communicative Behavior
Chemical
Auditory
Visual
Tactile

26. Communicative Behavior
Chemical
Pheromones designate chemical signals that are passed between members of the same species

27. Use of a Pheromone

28. Communicative Behavior
Auditory
Faster than chemical communication
Can be modified by loudness, pattern, repetition, and duration

29. A Chimpanzee With a Researcher

30. Communicative Behavior
Visual
Used by species active during the day
Contests between males make use of threat postures
Saves energy by avoiding fighting

31. 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

32. Communication Among Bees
Tactile