Animal Behavior Flashcards

Flashcards on Animal Behavior

Ethology

The study of animal behavior in the wild.

Behavior

What and How an animal does things

Ultimate Causation

The ecological/evolutionary reason for a behavior; how does it maximize fitness?

Proximate Causation

Trigger or signal that causes a behavior.

Innate Behaviors

Genetically determined or developmentally fixed behaviors.

Fixed Action Patterns

Complex behaviors performed without ever having seen them performed; always in sequence.

Sign Stimulus

External cue that triggers a fixed action pattern.

Imprinting

Strong genetic link; some baby birds follow the first object they see move after hatching.

Learned Behaviors

Behaviors modified by experience.

Spatial Learning

Learning landmarks to develop memory about locations.

Cognitive Map

Memory of size and position of objects.

Classical Conditioning

Associate a background stimulus with reward or harm.

Operant Conditioning

Trial and error learning where behavior is rewarded or harmful.

Cognition

A process of knowing that may include awareness, reasoning, recollection, and judgment

Cognition

Being aware and making judgements about environment

Insight

Figure things out- Problem solving skills

Observational Learning

Vertebrates, mammals learn from parents other members of species

Social Learning

Learning through the observation of others and forms the roots of culture

Agonistic behavior

Ritualized contest that determines which competitor gains access to a resource

Altruism

Self-sacrificing behavior that compromises the fitness of the altruist while benefitting the recipient.

Kin Selection

In most cases altruists are helping related animals-ultimately they are helping some of their genes get passed along

Inclusive Fitness

Individual’s own reproductive success as well as that of its relatives, measuring total genetic contribution