Ch. 20 Animal behaviour (behavioral ecology), part I

What is imprinting?

• When baby animals attach onto the first caring thing/first t

How are other animals able to communicate?

• through abstract body language like with bees dancing

What are Tinburgs four questions?

1. Causation - What process occurs so the behavior activates

2. Development - How does the behavior develop

3. Adaptive Function - How does it benefit the individual

4. Evolution - How does it show up in related organisms?

What are the proximate vs ultimate questions?

• proximate questions are HOW things happen, ultimate are WHY things happen

• proximate: Causation & Development (What causes the behavior to activate/how does it develop

• ultimate: Adaptive Function & Evolution (How does it benefit the individual/ how does it show up in other organisms?)

What are innate behaviors?

• Behaviors that occur without any prior learning, they just happen

What are learned behaviors?

• Behaviors that are picked up by organisms around them

What is a fixed action pattern?

• When something triggers a pattern of behavior

  • ex) when I open my phone to check my email or search something up but i just resort to doomscrolling bc thats what im used to, a fixed action pattern

What is non-associative learning?

• learning without reward or punishment, without a desired outcome

What is operant conditioning?

• When an action is tied to a stimulus

  • ex) mouses push a button because they know it gives them cocaine

  • or trained dogs do a behavior for a treat

What is sensitization?

• When another stimulus is used first before showing the actual stimulus

• This makes it so it is stronger

  • ex) drinking before taking drugs makes them stronger

What is associative learning/conditioning?

• Using a stimulus to trigger another

  • ex) ivan pavlovs dog and bell experiment

How do animals navigate?

• using visual and sound cues

What is inclusive fitness theory?

• the understanding that helping others will also help yourself

  • ex) mom monkeys nurse other baby monkeys in the expectation that her baby may also be nursed by other moms.