AP Biology- Behavior

Proximate Causation

The how, mechanisms that are the reasons for behavior.

Ultimate Causation

The why, why the behavior evolved

Sign Stimulus

Environmental trigger that initiates FAP.

Fixed Action Pattern

Action that is triggered by the sign stimulus.

Example of Sign Stimulus and FAP

If an egg rolls out of a birds nest the bird will roll it back in.

Kinesis

Environmental cues that trigger random movement (not instinct)

Example of Kinesis

Cockroaches move randomly when exposed to light

Taxis

Oriented/specific movement toward or away from a stimulus

Positive Taxis

Moving towards something

Positive Taxis example

Female deer releases hormones and male deer moves toward her

Negative Taxis

Avoiding a stimulus

Negative Taxis example

Running away from a spider

Habituation

Loss of response to a stimuli

Imprinting

Forming social attachment to other individuals

Example of Imprinting

A duckling following the first object that it sees

Migration

long-range, two-way movements animals do by using the sun, stars, and magnetic field

Navigation

Ability to set/adjust a bearing

Orientation

Follow a bearing

Animal Cognition

For example a monkey moving boxes so it can reach a banana

Optimal Foraging

Finding the most energy efficient way to do something

Animal Cognition

Successful reproduction depends on appropriate signals and responses

Courtship signals

Behaviors, sounds, or displays used to attract animal partners

Pheromones

Chemical messengers used for communication between individuals of the same specieis

Acoustic signals

Vocal calls of amphibians or birds

Intrasexual

Competition of the same sex for access to mates

Monogamy

1 male, 1 female

Polygyny

1 male, many females

Polyandry

1 female, many males

Intersexual

Individuals of one sex choosing mates based on desirable traits

Altruism

Performance of an action that benefits another individual at a cost to the actor

Reciprocal Altruism

Mutual exchanges of altruistic acts occur because they benefit both participants

Kin Selection Altruism

Animals are more likely to help relatives to ensure their genes are passed down

Haplodiploidy

Sex determination system where males develop from haploid eggs and females develop from diploid eggs.