Transcript Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior
Behavior is what an
animal does
and how it does it.
Behavior
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Two Types of Questions
Proximate:
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Ultimate:
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what triggers the behavior?
Why was this behavior selected
for over others?
Influenced by both
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Genes
Environment
What are the different types
of Behaviors
Instinct
 Imprinting
 Conditioning –Associative learning
Classical & Operant
 Insight
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1. Instinct
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A behavior that is
innate, or inherited.
Genetic
Programming w/
influences
Developmentally
Fixed
Kittiwake Gulls young born on cliff
Young innately adverse to cliffs, stay away from edges……WHY?
Those genetically not afraid fell off….eliminated from gene pool
Innate behavior
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Ethology: study of how animals perform these
FAP
in
Human
unique behaviors w/o seeing them done
before? Infant smile
Infant grasping objects
Stickleback Fish
FAP (Fixed Action Pattern)
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Unchangeable behavior, carried to completion
External sensory signal (sign stimulus)
Triggers response
Innate Behaviors can be tricked
Mayflies lays eggs on water
Tar Roads and black plastic reflect as water
Mayflies lay eggs on these also
Learning
Modification of behavior from specific
experiences
 Innate behaviors improve w/ experience
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Young give indiscriminant alarms
If false, no adult response
 If true, adult also gives alarm
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Accuracy improves with age
Maturation
Behavior change b/c of developmental
structures
 Baby birds restricted to NO use of wings
(never flap when young)
 Still fly at appropriate age
 Neuromuscular skill development
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2. Imprinting
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A form of learning
that occurs during a
“Sensitive period.”
Usually irreversible
Example – Salmon,
Geese
Ducklings
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“Sensitive Period”
Konrad Lorenz
1903-1989
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Conducted an
experiment with
geese that showed
imprinting
behaviors.
He replaced the
mother.
Developed the
concept of “sensitive
period”
3. Classical Conditioning
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Associative learning
occurs when an
animal recognized
that 2 or more
events are
connected.
Ivan Pavlov
1849-1936
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Using dogs
demonstrated the
phenomenon of
conditioned reflex.
Made his dog
salivate by ringing a
bell.
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First, gave dog food
when bell rang.
Second, rang bell no
food.
Operant Conditioning
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Trial and error
learning.
Learn in order to
receive a reward.
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Habituation is
another form, occurs
when an animal
learns not to respond
to a stimulus.
Skinner Box
B.F.Skinner
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Introduced trial and
error learning or
operant conditioning.
Placed mice in a
“Skinner box” that had
levers. Some levers
lead to a reward. Mice
learned to push these
levers.
Insight
Animal Cognition
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The highest form of
learning. Usually by
higher animals.
The ability to figure
out a behavior that
generates a desired
outcome.
Reasoning
Cognitive Mechanisms
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Kinesis: change in activity,
sow bugs activity change w/
humidity
Taxis: Movement,
orientation of trout
upstream
Landmarks (Tinbergen Exp)
Cognitive Maps: Jays and
cache location
Migration Behavior
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Piloting
Orientation
Navigation
Social Behaviors
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Interactions
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Sociobiology
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Aggression
Courtship
Deception
Evolutionary theory
Social behavior
Conflict and
Competition
Agonistic Behavior
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Agonistic behavior is
a contest involving
threats.
 Submissive behavior.
 Ritual: the use of
symbolic activity.
 Test of strength
 Generally, no harm is
done.
 Reconciliation
Behavior
Dominance Hierarchies
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Dominance
hierarchies involve a
ranking of individuals in
a social group (a
“pecking order”).
 Alpha, beta rankings
exist.
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The alpha organisms
control the behavior
of others.
Territoriality
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Territoriality is
behavior where an
individual defends a
particular area,
called the territory.
 Territories are
typically used for
feeding, mating,
and rearing young
and are fixed in
location.
Courtship
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Behavior that leads
to copulation
Establishes maturity
readiness
Establishes opposite
sex
Establishes health
condition
Ways Animals Communicate
 Chemical
 Visual
 Auditory
 Tactile
Chemical
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Use pheromones to
trigger a behavior.
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Releasers – immediate
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Moths use these to
attract a mate.
Ants mark trails
Primer – physiological
changes.
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Territorial uses – dogs,
cats, mice, etc..
Visual
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Many visual displays
are observed during
acts of agonistic
behaviors as well as
courtship.
Auditory
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Use to communicate
over long distances,
through water and
at night.
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Whales
Elephants
Frogs
Birds
Tactile
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Touching promotes
social bonding,
infant care grooming
and mating.
Altruistic Behavior
Unselfish Behavior
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Altruism is
defined as
behavior that
might
decrease
individual fitness,
but increase the
fitness of others.