Animal Behavior: Ethology, Communication, and Social Strategies

Goff Ecology - UNCC

What is proximate causation?

Proximate causation refers to the immediate, underlying causes of behavior, such as physiological or developmental factors.

What is ultimate causation?

Ultimate causation addresses the evolutionary reasons behind a behavior, explaining how it contributes to survival and reproduction.

What is ethology?

Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior, focusing on behavior in natural environments.

What is behavioral ecology?

Behavioral ecology examines the ecological and evolutionary basis of animal behavior, considering how behavior affects survival and reproduction.

What is sociobiology?

Sociobiology is the study of the biological basis of social behavior in animals, including humans.

What are stereotypical behaviors?

Stereotypical behaviors are repetitive, invariant patterns of behavior that occur in specific contexts, often triggered by releasers or sign stimuli.

What is a hygienic bee?

A hygienic bee is a bee that can detect and remove diseased or dead brood from the hive, helping to maintain colony health.

What is habituation?

Habituation is a form of learning in which an animal decreases its response to a repeated, benign stimulus over time.

What is sensitization?

Sensitization is an increased response to a stimulus following a strong or noxious event, leading to heightened sensitivity.

What are the pros of imprinting?

Imprinting can lead to strong attachments and learning critical survival skills during a sensitive developmental period.

What are the cons of imprinting?

Imprinting can result in maladaptive behaviors if the young animal forms attachments to inappropriate objects or species.

What is agonistic behavior?

Agonistic behavior encompasses a range of social behaviors related to fighting, including aggressive, submissive, defensive, and retreating actions.

What is the difference between ritual threat displays and direct engagement?

Ritual threat displays are non-violent signals intended to deter opponents, while direct engagement involves actual physical confrontation.

How does chemoreception affect behavior?

Chemoreception allows animals to detect chemical signals in their environment, influencing behaviors such as mating, foraging, and territory marking.

What are mating strategies?

Mating strategies are behavioral patterns that animals use to attract mates, including monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, and polygyny.

What is altruism in animal behavior?

Altruism refers to behaviors that benefit others at a cost to oneself, often explained through kin selection, inclusive fitness, and reciprocal altruism.

What are methods of communication between animals?

Animals communicate through various methods, including vocalizations, scent marking, body posture, and dances, which can be species-specific or cross-species.

What is the waggle dance?

The waggle dance is a behavior performed by honeybees to communicate the location of food sources to other members of the hive.

What is the significance of intelligence and cognition in animals?

Intelligence and cognition in animals refer to their ability to learn, solve problems, and adapt to their environment, often supported by examples from various species.