Inherited and Learned

Behaviors

Traits (Behavior) • Traits are something an organism does.

• Examples:

A bear hibernating

Plant stems growing up and roots growing

down

Instinctive Behavior

• An instinctive behavior is a behavior that

an animal inherits from its parents.

• The animal is born with the behavior.

Inherited Traits

• Characteristics passed down to an

offspring by his or her parents.

• These traits (behaviors) are controlled by

genes made up of DNA.

Examples of Inherited Traits

• Hibernation-a deep sleeplike state when

an animal’s body processes slow down.

• Migration-seasonal movement of animals

from one place to another

• Protecting Young

• Walking

• Eating

• Breathing

Examples of Inherited Traits

• Fur color

• Body markings

• Height

• Length

• Shape of eyes,

ears, nose, body

Learned Behavior

• A learned behavior is a behavior that an

animal develops by observing other

animals or by being taught.

Examples of Learned Behaviors

• Sea animals doing tricks

• Birds avoiding viceroy butterflies

Learned and Inherited

• Some behaviors animals have are a combination of learned and inherited traits.

• Examples:

Young cheetahs have the instinct to hunt, but at first do not know how to sneak up on their prey. They learn how to do that by watching their mother when she hunts.

Wolves have the instinct to hunt but learn to hunt in groups.

Hunting in Packs

Plant’s Behavior

• All plant behavior

is inherited (they

can’t learn can

they?).

• However, plants

will respond to

their

environment.

Plants responding to their

environment

• A plant’s response to a stimulus is called tropism.

• If you put a plant near a window it will turn it’s leaves toward the sunlight.

• Plants roots grow downward toward water.