Behavioral Biology Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts and definitions related to behavioral biology.

Innate behavior

Inherited behavior that is instinctive and automatic.

Learned behavior

Behavior that is developed during an animal's lifetime through experience.

Nature vs Nurture

Nature refers to inherited characteristics, while nurture pertains to behaviors learned from the environment.

Habituation

The process in which an animal loses its response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.

Imprinting

A form of learning in which a young animal forms an attachment to a specific figure during a critical period.

Spatial learning

The mental mapping of the environment that helps an animal orient and navigate its surroundings.

Associative learning

A learning process in which an animal learns to associate a stimulus with a consequence, often through rewards or punishments.

Operant conditioning

A type of associative learning involving trial and error, where behaviors are modified based on rewards or consequences.

Classical conditioning

A learning process where an animal connects a reflexive behavior with an associated stimulus.

Social learning

Learning that occurs by observing others, often seen in social species.

Dominance hierarchy

The social ranking within a group, establishing order and roles among individuals.

Altruistic behavior

Behavior that reduces an individual's fitness but increases the fitness of others, often through kin selection.