Ecology: AP Biology

ethology

study of how evolution shapes behaviors due to specific stimuli

behavior

an animal’s response to a stimulus

• nature vs nurture

• allows for survival and reproduction

proximate vs ultimate cause

proximate

• how behavior occurs (what is the trigger)

ultimate

• why behavior occurs (in context of natural selection)

innate vs learned behaviors

innate

• born knowing

• hereditary + instinctive

• experiences dont affect

learned

• experiences affect

• variation within a population

fixed action patterns

sequence of unlearned acts directly related to a stimulus

• unchangeable

• triggered by a sign stimulus (external cue)

signal

stimulus generated from one animal to another; animal communication

ex: pheromones, stimulus response chains, body movement

pheremones

chemicals emitted that can affect other members of the same species

stimulus response chains

response to a stimulus = another stimulus

directed movements

movements towards or away from a stimulus

kinesis

non directional movement due to a stimulus (roaming, pill bugs)

taxis

directional mocement towards or away from a stimulus

ex:

• phototaxis = response to light

• chemotaxis = response to chemical signals

• geotaxis = response to gravity

learning

the modification of behavior based on specific experiences

imprinting

long lasting behavioral response to an individual

happens during a sensitive period of development (early life)

occurs with the first individuals they see (ex with mom)

spatial learning

establish memories based on animal’s surroundings

cognitive map

associative learning

ability to associate one environmental feature with another

• monarch butterflies = taste bad

socual learning

learning through obseriving and imitating other behaviors

foraging

food obtaining behavior

animals better at foraging will survive longer cause they have more food

mating behaviors

animals can be monogamous or polygamous

good mating behaviors can show females that they will get strong children that will survive

altruism

cooperative behaviors tend to increase fitness

altruism reduces individual fitness but increases the fitness of the rest of the population

phtototropism

directional plants response aloowes plants to grow towards or away from light

photoperiodism

allows plants to respond to day length

plant defenses

plants have physical and chemical defenses to protect them from heribivores

• physical = thorns

• chemical = toxic or icky