Bio 1108 Behavioural Ecology

Communication

Use of specifically designed signals or displays to modify the behaviour of others

Chemosensory, Acoustic, Visual, Tactile/Vibrational

What are the four major modes of communication?

Chemosensory Communication

• Sense of communication that includes both taste and smell

• Often functions over short distances (though some animals have a better sense of smell than others)

Some fish peeing on each other or queen bees releasing pheromones to suppress reproductive system of other female bees

Examples of Chemosensory Communication

Altruism

A behavior that appears to benefit others at a cost to oneself

Reciprocal Altruism

A behavior where ana organism provides a benefit to another with the expectation of receiving a benefit in return at a later time

Inclusive fitness

Designates the total number of copies of genes passed on through own offspring and one’s relatives

Coefficient of relatedness

Probability that any two individuals will share a copy of a particular gene

Kin Selection

Behavior that lowers an individual’s own fitness but enhances the reproductive success of relatives

Eusociality

Workers (females) help queen raise offspring but have none of their own

Promiscuous

Both sexes have multiple mating partners

Polygyny

One male commands a harem of females

Polyandry

One female mates with several males

Monogamous

Partners form lasting pair bonds

Sexual Dimorphism

Differences in appearance, sixe, or other characteristics between males and females of the same species

Intersexual Sexual Selection

member of one sex chooses mate based on certain characteristics

Intresexual Sexual Selection

Members of one sex compete for partners and the winner gets most of the matings

Innate Behaviors

Strong genetic component, independent of environment, “Hard wired”

Learned Behaviours

Result from environment conditioning, flexible and dynamic

Reflex action

an involuntary and rapid response to stimulus

Kinesis

The undirected movement in response to a stimulus

Taxis

The directed movement towards or away from a stimulus

Fixed action pattern

A series of movements elicited by a stimulus such that even when stimulus is removed, the pattern goes on to completion

Migration

Lone-range seasonal movement of animals

Imprinting

A rapid form of learning occurring at a specific life stage, where an animal forms strong attachments and develops a concept of its identity

Classical Conditioning

Animals learn to associate a neutral stimulus with a significant one. For example, Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell with flood, eventually salivating at the sound alone

Operant conditioning

Animals learn behaviors through rewards and punishments. For example, a rat in a skinner box learns to press a lever to receive food

Cognitive learning

Is the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experiences, and the senses, involving mental processes such as thinking, knowing, memory, and problem-solving