Animal Behavior

1. Behavior- what an animal does and how it does it…
   1. Proximate causes (how)- genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying a behavior…many animals are stimulated to become reproductively mature when seasonal temperatures are correct
   2. Ultimate causes (why) - why did natural selection favor one behavior over another…animals become reproductive mature when temperatures are high enough to support food…
2. Instinct
   1. Innate- behavior that is genetically fixed

                                                               i.      Kittiwake gulls are gulls that nest on cliffs…the young show an innate aversion to cliff edges…

2. Inherited circuitry that directs and guides behavior
3. Ex. Waggle dance of the bee
4. Instinct can be replaced by learned behavior (learning refers to a change in a behavior brought about by an experience)

                                                               i.      Infant feeding…human instinct?

3. Fixed action pattern (FAP)- a sequence of behavioral acts that is essentially unchangeable and usually carried to completion once started
   1. FAP is triggered by a sign stimulus
   2. Moths instantly fold their wings and fall to the ground in response to ultrasonic signals sent out by predatory bats
   3. Infant smile
   4. Some water beetles
   5. Mayflies lay their eggs on the surface of water…the polarized light from the water is the sign stimulus….pavement also polarizes light causing mayflies to lay their eggs on roads
   6. Mallard Duck

Behavioral Ecology- is the research field that views behavior a an evolutionary adaptation to the natural ecological condition of an animal

• Natural selection will favor behavioral patterns that increase survival and reproduction

Learning- modification of behavior resulting from specific experiences.

Learing vs Maturation

Maturation- changes in neuromuscular system…causes changes in learning and innate behaviors….birds can’t fly until the wings mature

4. Habituation- a type of learning that involves a loss of responsiveness to stimuli that convey little or no information…..”cry-wolf” effect

The behaviors below are learned

5. Imprinting  -occurs over a defined, brief period (sensitive period) of time, usually early in an organism’s life.
   1. Example: infant recognizing parent
6. Associative learning- the ability of animals to learn to associate one stimulus with another…associating an event with an outcome
   1. Classical Conditioning- learning through conditioning or repeated instances

                                                               i.      Pavlov Dogs...ringing a bell    Classical Conditioning 2

2. Operant Conditioning- trial and error learning

                                                               i.      Animal learns to perform an act in order to receive a reward…

                                                             ii.      B.F. Skinner…rats…lever….food

                                                            iii.      Animal’s own behavior determines whether it gets the reward or punishment

                                                           iv.      Operant vs classical

7. Play behavior

Animal Cognition- the ability of an animal’s nervous system to perceive, store, process, and use information gathered by sensory receptors…a brains response to environmental stimuli Killdeer, Killdeer behavior

8. Insight- involves reasoning or problem solving
   1. Ability to approach new situations and figure out a way to deal
9. Kinesis- a simple change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus
   1. Sow bugs become less active in moist areas… slowing down keeps them in the moist areas longer….a moist environment is favorable
10. Taxis- automatic, orientation toward or away from a stimulus …positive and negative
    1. Trout demonstrate positive Rheotaxis (rheo=current)…will turn toward a current
    2. Housefly are negative phototactic after eating…staying in the dark keeps them hidden from predators
11. Landmarks
    1. Digger wasp …see Figure 51.2 Digger wasp animation (also FAP)
12. Migration behaviors
    1. Regular movements over long distances….3 mechanisms

                                                              i.      piloting

1.      moving from one landmark to another…short distance movement

                                                             ii.      orientation

1.      animal detects compass directions and travels in a particular straight line path

                                                          iii.      navigation

1.      uses current location and compass directions to determine the direction to go

Animal Communication

1. Chemical- pheromones
2. visual
3. auditory
4. tactile

Eating Behaviors

      1. Herds, flocks, packs, and schools

      2. Search image

Social Behaviors

1. Agonistic behaviors (aggression or submission)
2. Dominance hierarchies
3. Territoriality
4. Altruistic