1. E3 Innate and learned behavior

2. Innate and learned behavior
Instinctive (Fixed Action Pattern), based on genetics
Based on experience
Not modified by individual & unaffected by environment
Modified by individual by trial and error & affected by environment
Low variation in population
High variation in population
Evolved through natural selection
Capacity to learn is a product of natural selection
Examples:
Newborn instincts
Migration of blackcaps
Acquisition of language and social skills
Domesticated behavior in pets
Training dolphins to perform

3. Design of innate behavior experiments
Taxis = locomotion of an organism in a particular direction in response to an external stimulus
Positive taxis = towards stimulus, Negative taxis = away from stimulus
Examples:
Planaria (flatworm) moves towards food = positive chemotaxis
Euglena (protist) moves towards light = positive phototaxis

4. Design of innate behavior experiments
Kinesis = the movement (as opposed to growth) of an organism or a cell in response to a stimulus
Intensity affects the rate of kinesis
Example:
Orthokinesis: speed of movement altered as response to stimulus
Klinokinesis: rate of turning altered as response to stimulus
Porcello scaber (woodlice) move about less in optimum, humid, conditions, and more in unfavorable, dry conditions

6. Today Read pill bug experimental design (p. 475 -477) Looking ahead
Create a schedule for mock exam study
Unit Test (E1, E2 and E3)

7. E3 Innate and learned behavior

8. Innate and learned behavior
Instinctive (Fixed Action Pattern), based on genetics
Based on experience
Not modified by individual & unaffected by environment
Modified by individual by trial and error & affected by environment
Low variation in population
High variation in population
Evolved through natural selection
Capacity to learn is a product of natural selection
Examples:
Newborn instincts
Migration of blackcaps
Acquisition of language and social skills
Domesticated behavior in pets
Training dolphins to perform

9. Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning = process of learning which pairs a stimulus with a response
Pavlov's dog: classical conditioning in dog salivation in response to food paired with a ringing bell
innate: unconditioned stimulus (US), smell of food --> unconditioned response (UR), salivation
experience: food (US) + conditioned stimulus (CS), bell -- salivation (UR)
generalization: bell (CS) --> salivation (UR becomes CR, conditioned response)

10. Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning = process of learning in which positive behaviors are rewarded (positive reinforcement) and negative are punished (negative reinforcement )
BF Skinner’s experiment
Rats and pigeons were trained to push levers and perform actions to receive food rewards
Electrical shock punished incorrect actions

11. Imprinting
Imprinting = process by which young animals become attached to their mother within the first day or soon after
Konrad Lorenz
Sign stimulus (moving object) at a critical period  triggers innate releasing mechanism

12. Learning and Natural Selection
Goslings vary in their ability to imprint (variation)
Goslings that are able to imprint on their mother, will avoid predators by remaining close to her, increasing their chances of survival (natural selection)
Alleles allowing imprinting are passed on to their offspring at a higher rate than alleles without imprinting ability (heritability)
Thus, imprinting alleles accumulate (evolution) and the trait becomes common in the population (adaptation)

13. Bird Song
Uses song to deter males from entering territory or attract other mates
Both inherited and innate
Species specific crude template (innate)
Adult song (inherited)
Sensitive period in which imprinting takes place
Captive birds may not be reproductively successful in the wild because they were not imprinted with the correct mature song.