Animal Behavior Exam 1

Proximate Questions Explore…

physiological, developmental, neuroendocrine, anatomical, or otherwise experimental questions

Ultimate Questions Explore….

evolutionary mechanisms including functional and historical issues (Adaptive Value)

Ethogram

A comprehensive + objective description of an animal’s behavior

Mechanism

What env., genetic, or hormonal cues stimulate the animal to behave this way? What triggers behavior?

Adaptive Value

In what way does the behavior enhance the animal’s survival or RS? What is it’s function?

Phylogeny

What is the evolutionary history of the behavior? Comparing species or lineages.

Development

What developmental processes affect the behavior over time? How is behavior expressed over a lifetime.

Uniforitarianism

Current processes same as the past

Darwin’s Insight

Common ancestor of multiple species

Evolution via NS Reason #1

Variation; Individuals within a species differ in some trait

Evolution via NS Reason #2

Heritability of successful traits

Evolution via NS Reason #3

Differences in reproductive success of traits

Adaptation

A trait that confers higher fitness to individuals in a population compared to others with existing traits; not defined as good or desirable

Measuring Fitness

Reproductive success of an individuals relative to others within a species

Inclusive Fitness

A total measure of an individuals contribution of genes to the next generation due to direct/indirect selection

Plasticity

Capacity of a geneotype (or individual) to change its phenotype in response to changes in the environment

Polyphenism

Different phenotypes arise from a single genotype as a result of differing enviornmental conditions during development; i.e. expressing dominant colors, gator genders

Learning

A change in behavior based on experience that outlasts the experience

Habituation

Responses to same stimulus grows weaker with subsequent presentations; less energy wasted

Sensitization

Responses to same stimulus grow stronger per presentation; enhances response to danger

Associative Learning

Learns to associate stimulus that has a biological meaning with one that is neutral

Social Learning

By observing others; very common

Hormones

Organic chemical signals, produced by endocrine gland, released into the bloodstream and target another part of the body

Hormones influence…

Sensory + Central processing, motor systems, behavior

Critical (Sensitive) Period

Brief, well-defined period in which exposure to some stimulus produces irreversible effects on the later behavior; feature of development

Steroids

Cholesterol based; estrogens, androgens; Promote male-based traits

Proteins/Peptides

String of AA, Oxytocin, Prolactin

Amines

Modified AA, Adrenaline, serotonin, melatonin

Hormone production + release is often controlled by…

Complex endocrine cascades

Mating behavior is influenced by…

Control of gonadal steroid hormones; testosterone

Androgen exposed females…

Increased ability to display mounting

Organizational Effects

Occur early in development or specific critical period; irreversible

Activational Effects

Occur in adulthood or when hormone is present; reversible; allow for flexible behavior; i.e. injection of hormone

Advanced Notice (Environmental Cues)

Predictive Cues

Short Notice (Environmental Cues)

Opportunistic Cues

Ecological Determinism

Ecological factors influence how traits (+ Mechanisms) evolve

Winners of fights tend to have… (Environment affecting hormones)

Higher testosterone

Similar endocrine processes….

May account for indiv. variation in behavior; serves are raw material for evolution

The same amount of hormone…

May yield different behavioral responses among individuals

Focal Sampling

Watch one specific individual for a period of time; record all behaviors

Scan Sampling

Behavior is recorded for all indiv. at specific time intervals; “snapshot”

Ad Libitum Sampling

No systematic rule for who, what, and when to watch

State

Long, measured action with duration, i.e. sleep

Event

Occurs briefly, count using numbers

Proximate Questions

How

Ultimate Questions

Why

Heredity on and Individual Level

Selection acts on heritable INDIVIDUAL variation in traits

Correlation

Compare individuals within a population that vary in behavior/Trait

Experimentation

Create variation in a trait artificially; see if this alters fitness

Genetic Drift

Change in allele frequency in a population over time due to random sampling

Gene Flow

Interbreeding among locally adapted population

Phylogenetic Constraints

Accidents of history prevent organisms from developing certain adaptations

Pleiotropy

One gene affects multople traits; often correlated

Epigenetics

How the environment can affects the genome of an individual + its descendants without change the DNA sequence; can be stable

Costs of Learning

Energy expensive, wrong associations, hard to unlearn, trade-offs

Transient Threat

Triggers fight or flight response mediated by adrenaline

Longer Threat

Causes production of cortisol or corticosterone; steroids typically produced by the adrenal

CORT

Metabolic stress hormone

GxE

Different genotypes react differently to environmental change