1. AP Behavioral Biology Chapter 51

2. Behavioral ecology- scientific discipline that studies how behaviors are controlled, developed, evolved, and how they contribute to survival and reproductive success. Behavior- everything an animal does and how it does it

3. Ethology-the scientific study of how animals behave, particularly in their natural environments

4. Core questions 1. What is the mechanism basis of the behavior, including chemical, anatomical, and physiological mechanism? How does development of the animal, from zygote to mature individual, influence the behavior?

5. 3. What is the evolutionary history of the behavior? 4. How does the behavior contribute to survival and reproduction?

6. Proximate vs. Ultimate Questioning proximate questions of behavior focus on the environmental stimuli, if any, that trigger a behavior, as well as the genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavioral act –Ex. How does day length influence breeding by red-crowned cranes?

7. Ultimate questions address the evolutionary significance of a behavior Ex. Why did natural selection favor this behavior and not a different one?

8. Fixed action pattern (FAP), a sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that are unchangeable once initiated and carried through completion Imprinting- a type of behavior that includes both learning and innate components and is generally irreprehensible (must take place during a crucial time period)

9. Innate behaviors- behavior that is developmentally fixed (have a strong genetic influence) Learning- the modification of behavior based on specific experiences

10. Forms of learning Habituation Spatial learning (locations of landmarks, food, hazards…etc) Cognitive maps (internal recognition or code) Associate learning (color with a bad taste) Cognition and problem solving

11. Classical conditioning- form of associative learning an arbitrary stimulus is associated with a reward or punishment (Pavlov’s dog) Operant conditioning-trial and error learning

12. Altruism- behavior that reduces an individuals fitness but increases the fitness of other individuals within a population; selflessness