Imprinting

What is the definition of imprinting?

The innate, rapid formation of attachment to the first moving object seen.

What is the definition of the sensitive period?

A period during which an individual is more sensitive to different experiences.

Experiences during this period are more likely to influence behaviour.

Begin and end gradually.

What is the definition of the critical period?

A period that governs instinctive bonding behaviour.

Exposure to an experience (ie attachment) necessary during this period to determine correct response to the same experience later in life.

Begin and end abruptly—’window of opportunity’ (Lorenz).

What is the definition of malimprinting?

The imprinting of an individual on an individual or object that is not its main caregiver/a conspecific.

What is the definition of altricial?

An animal that is born/hatches in an undeveloped state.

Requires extensive care and feeding by caregiver.

Entirely dependent on caregiver.

What is the definition of precocial?

An animal that is born/hatches in an advanced state.

Able to feed itself almost immediately after birth.

Capable of complex movement and relative independence.

What is the definition of filial imprinting?

The process of imprinting on a parental figure/caregiver.

What is sexual imprinting?

Where an animal learns its sexual preference by observing the phenotypes of conspecifics.

In which kind of offspring is imprinting more important?

Precocial.

They need to know to stay close to their main caregiver and not wander away.

What are the three criticisms of Lorenz’s concept of imprinting?

Too much emphasis on a biological foundation of behaviour.

Described rigidity of the critical/sensitive periods.

His dismissal of the importance of learning and reinforcement/training—believed imprinting to be irreversible.

How did Lorenz conduct his experiments on imprinting?

Used two groups of greylag geese hatchlings—one group was hatched naturally by the mother goose and imprinted on her; the other group was hatched in an incubator by Lorenz and imprinted on him.

He then placed both groups in an upturned box so they could mix, then removed the box to see who the goslings returned to—the ones that had imprinted on the mother goose returned to her, and the ones that had imprinted on him returned to him.

How is understanding imprinting relevant to animal husbandry?

(Mal)imprinting is part of an individual’s history—may influence behaviour and husbandry needs.

Under Animal Welfare Act and 5 Freedoms/Domains, animals have a right to exhibit natural behaviour—malimprinting may impact this.

It’s something to be aware of with regards to captive breeding and hand-raising, ie in the event of parental rejection.

When hand-raising offspring, how can we reduce the likelihood/effect of malimprinting?

Reduce time/extent of exposure to non-conspecifics/non-natural experiences.

Use of puppets, audio recordings etc to mimic natural feeding/behaviour.

What are the potential negative impacts of malimprinting?

Learning of incorrect behaviour/not learning species-typical behaviour (ie flight, migration).

Lack of social skills with conspecifics.

Confused identity—may believe themselves to be members of species that raised them.

May affect sexual imprinting, leading to reproductive/breeding issues.

Inability to raise own young as unable to teach correct behaviours.

What is Lorenz regarded as as a result of his work?

A founding practitioner of ethology.