Bio: Quest Animal Behavior and Water

Cohesion

Water molecules sticking to other water molecules

Water forms droplets on a leaf

Cohesion

Adhesion

Water molecules sticking to a different surface

Water climbs up the side of a glass tube

Adhesion

Capillary Action

Water moving upward through a narrow space because of adhesion and cohesion

Water travels from a plant’s roots to its leaves

Capillary action

Surface Tension

The strong “skin-like” surface of water caused by cohesion

A water strider walks across a pond

Surface Tension

Hydrophilic

Attracted to water; mixes with or absorbs water

Salt dissolves easily in water

Hydrophilic

Hydrophobic

Repels water; does not mix with water

Oil forms a separate layer on top of water

Hydrophobic

Universal Solvent

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid

Salt disappears when stirred into water

Universal Solvent

High Specific Heat

Water resists changes in temperature

A large lake stays cooler than land during summer days

High Specific Heat

High heat of vaporization

Water needs a lot of energy to evaporate

Sweating cools the body

High Heat of Vaporization

Ethology

The scientific study of animal behavior

Scientists observe wolves in the wild to study their behavior

Ethology

Kinesis

A change in movement speed or activity in response to a stimulus

A pill Bug moves faster in dry areas and slower in moist areas

Kinesis

Taxis

Movement toward or away from a stimulus

A moth flies toward a light

Taxis

Migration

Seasonal movement from one area to another

Geese fly south for the winter

Migration

Circadian Rhythms

Internal biological cycles that follow a roughly 24-hr schedule

A person feels sleepy at night and awake during the day

Circadian Rhythms

Pheromones

Chemical signals that affect other members of the same species

Ants follow a scent trail to food

Pheromones

Spatial Awareness

The ability to recognize and remember locations in an environment

A squirrel remembers where it buried nuts.

Spatial awareness

Innate Behavior

A behavior an animal is born knowing how to perform

A spider spins a web without being taught

Innate behavior

Associated Learning

Learning by connecting two events or experiences

A dog learns that the sound of a food bag means dinner is coming

Associated Learning

Classical Conditioning

Learning to associate one stimulus with another

Pavlov’s dogs salivate when they hear a bell

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Learning through rewards and punishments

A rat presses a lever to receive food

Operant Conditioning

Fixed Action Pattern

An automatic behavior triggered by a specific stimulus

A goose automatically rolls an egg back into its nest

Fixed Action Pattern

Habituation

Learning to ignore a repeated harmless stimulus

Birds stop reacting to a scarecrow after seeing it many times

Habituation

Imprinting

Rapid learning that occurs during a critical early period of life

Ducklings follow the first moving object they see after hatching

Imprinting

Foraging

Searching for and gathering food

A squirrel collects acorns for winter

Foraging

Sensitive Period

A time when an organism is especially able to learn certain behaviors

Young songbirds learn songs most easily shortly after hatching

Sensitive Period

Mimicry

Resembling another organism to gain protection or another advantage

A king snake looks similar to a venomous coral snake

Mimicry

Agonistic Behavior

Behaviors related to conflict such as fighting, threatening, or submission.

Two male deer fight over territory

Agonistic Behavior

Altruism

Helping another individual at a cost to yourself

A prairie dog gives an alarm call, attracting attention to itself while warning the group

Altruism

Inclusive Fitness

An individuals genetic success through its own offspring and helping relatives reproduce

A bee worker sacrifices itself to protect the hive and related bees

Inclusive Fitness