ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Ch. 51.1-2; 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)

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA96Fba-WHk

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/birthcarbon 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

VIDEOS

Birds of Paradise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7QZnwKqopo

Honey Bees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nga4Z_HRUsU

Sage Grouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0M8pZnNlnI

Monkeys and tool usage (life series)