Transcript Biology 105
Biology 105 Animal Behavior Pgs 1127-1151 Student Outcomes Describe the interactions of heredity, environment, and maturation in animal behavior. Distinguish between proximate and ultimate causes of behavior, and apply the concepts of ultimate cause and costbenefit analysis to decide whether a particular behavior is adaptive. Student Outcomes Discuss the significance of habituation, imprinting, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and cognition Describe common modes of animal communication, including signaling by pheromones. Animal Behavior -What an animal does and how it does it – in response to stimuli in its environment. Known as Behavioral Ecology (Ethology) Behavior responses have costs. Ecologists use cost-benefit analysis to understand animal behaviors Nature vs Nurture Innate Behavior – inborn (instinct) Learned Behavior – modified with environmental experience Behavior patterns as a results of Motor Programs Graylag next Male goose retrieves an egg from the stickleback with red color on ventral surface Innate – Learned Behavior 8 steps Instinct Fixed action pattern Imprinting Associate Learning Trial and Error Habituation Observational learning Insight Habituation Learned behavior of ignoring repeated stimuli that neither reward or punish. Imprinting Occurs within the first few hours of birth or hatching. Shape, Sound and Scent are very important for imprinting. If kept apart for a few hours after birth, mothers may reject the newborn. Classical Conditioning An association between a new stimulus and a body function. Pavlov’s dog Unconditioned stimulus (food) Conditioned stimulus (bell) Unconditioned response (salivating to food) Conditioned response (salivating to bell) Extinction stimulus – forgetting the conditioned Operant Conditioning Animal will gain a reward for doing something OR avoid punishment. Classic example– Mouse with lever Cognition Gaining knowledge and carrying out higher level mental functions. Insight learning – linking past experiences to solve new problems Debate among behavioral ecologists is how much Cognition and selfawareness most animals have? Social behavior Interaction of 2 or more animals usually of the same species (society). Benefits: safety, hunting, defense, division of labor Costs: more food and resources needed. Battle for territory and mating rights. Communication is necessary Communication Important Holding in a group together Warn of danger Signal social status Indicate willingness to accept care Identify members of the same species Indicate sexual maturity (mating) Finding food or other resources Communication Visual – fast and share much info Auditory – better for night time and over long distances Scent – urination to mark objects (Pheromones), or to attract members of opposite sex. Sexual Selection Two Types Intrasexual selection – individuals of same sex compete for mates. Ex: male kangaroos ‘boxing’ Intersexual selection-females select mate based on physical traits or winning suitors. Sexual selection Polygyny – males fertilize the eggs of many females. Polyandry – one female mates with several males. Monogamy – one male mates with one female – rare outside of the human species.