Animal Behavior Exam 1

Ethograms

a catalog or inventory of specific behaviors and actions exhibited by an animal, used by researchers to study and quantify behavior objectively

Spectrogram

a visual way of showing how the different frequencies (pitches) and amplitudes (loudness) of a signal change over time, larger bird (lower frequencies)

Genetic difference hypothesis

geographic variations or dialects in bird songs arise from underlying genetic divergences between populations rather than purely cultural or environmental learning

Acoustic stimulus hypothesis

environmental factors and background noise shape how birds develop and modify their songs (overcoming background noise)

Social interaction hypothesis

young songbirds require active social feedback and interaction with live tutors or peers to properly learn, shape, and master their species-specific vocalizations

When do birds learn songs

10 - 50 days after hatching

Nutritional stress hypothesis

birdsong acts as a reliable, honest signal of male quality because the brain structures required for learning and producing complex songs develop during early life when young birds are most vulnerable to food shortages

Benefits of bird song

improve reproductive success, increase information flow

Proximate level: Mechanism

triggers/mechanisms responsible for a behavior, how does it work, physical causes

Proximate level: Development

When/how is the behavior learned, shaped by genes and experience. how did the trait come to be

Ultimate level: Evolution

what is the phylogenic history of the trait, how has it changed or been inherited, was it present in ancestors

Ultimate level: Function (adaptive value)

how the behavior helps an individual survive, what does the trait do

Why do birds sing?

to illustrate reproductive fitness, or secure territory

calls convey information

elaborate calls = “good genes”

3 critical factors deciding habitat selection

risk of predation

food/resource availability

availability of mates

Free distribution theory

animals will compromise, settling for a habitat with fewer resources and fewer competitors. minimize intraspecific competition chose habitat to maximize reproductive success

interse (x) ual selection

females selecting male mates

intrase (x) ual selection

male male competition

Proceptive behavior

female birds show their attraction to a male’s display

Counter singing

territorial neighbors sing to each other, often matching and attempting to outdo each other’s songs (sizing each other up)

Economic defensibility

the benefits of protecting a resource, market position, or territory outweigh the costs of defending it

Resource-holding potential

an animal's physical and physiological capacity to win a fight over a limited resource

territory holders may have advantages (e.g. larger size) that allow them to better defend a territory.

How did migration arise

migration has evolved many times, even within the same genus of bird