Ethology and behavioural ecology

Behavioral ecology

How the behavior of an animal helps with survival.

Communication

acustic, visual, tactile and chemical

Sexual selection

certain traits increase mating success and survival.

Sexual dimorphism

The difference between male and female characteristics.

High competition effect on sexual dimorphism

Results in a bigger difference between male and female traits.

Low competition effect on sexual dimorphism

Results in a lower difference, focusing on internal traits.

Monogamy

one male and one female both care for offspring.

Polygyny

one male with many females.

Polyandry

one female with many males.

Promiscuous mating

multiple partners leading to competition.

Mimicry

When an animal pretends to be dangerous through color or shape.

Camouflage

Blending into surrounding environments to avoid predation.

Aposematic coloring

Bright and contrasting colors that signal danger to potential predators.

Social systems - Pack

Social structure allowing for shared resources but requiring more food.

Social systems - Solitary

Independent living that avoids food sharing but complicates food acquisition.

Ethology

The study of animal behavior and the reasons behind it.

Instincts

Innate behaviors

Stimuli

a triggering factor

Key stimuli

A specific trigger for a specific behavior

Supernormal stimuli

very strong stimuli and a large reaction

Conditioning

condition a behaviour to a stimuli they wouldn’t react to normally

Imprinting

Learning behavior from other individual

Redundant action

motivation for a behaviour but the stimuli is missing

Displacement activity

Conflict between motivations leading to no behavior being done