Animal Behavior (Unit 1)

behaviors, learning, stimulus/response

Behavior

The way an organism reacts to changes in its internal condition or external environment

behavior

The terms ‘simple’ or ‘complex’ can be used to describe a certain type of ________?

Stimulus

Any kind of signal that carries information & can be detected

stimulus

The terms ‘internal’ or ‘external’ can be used to describe a certain type of ________?

internal

An animal being hungry is an example of an ________ stimulus.

external

Waking up to the sun is an example of an ________ stimulus.

Response

The effect of a stimulus.

stimuli

light, sound, odor, and heat are all examples of _______.

Innate Behavior

Behaviors that are fully functional from the first time they’re performed.

innate

A spider weaving a web would be an example of ______ behavior.

genes & environment

2 things that interact to cause innate behaviors

Learning

altering behavior as a result of experience

Habituation

The simplest type of learning

Insight learning

The most complex type of learning

innate ability + learning

a combination of 2 things most behaviors result from

imprinting

fixing onto & following something for protection/direction

Migration

the periodic movement from one place to another, then back again

Circadian Rhythm

behavioral cycles that appear in your daily cycle; like waking up and going to sleep

Courtship

an animal sends out “stimuli”—like sounds/visual displays/chemicals (pheromones)—in the effort to attract a member of the opposite sex

ritual

an elaborate series of behaviors

society

a group of closely related animals, which are all members of the same species, that work together for the benefit of the group (like a pride of lions)

hunt, rivals

Animal societies use their strength in numbers to improve their ability to ____, protect their territory, guard their young, and fight with ______ if necessary.

Altruism

Behavior that helps a relative survive, like female African dogs staying home with the kids while male African dogs go out to hunt.

Jane Goodall

The animal behaviorist who spent thousands of hours observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat/environment and is responsible for us knowing a great deal of what we know about primates

competition

When 2 or more animals try to claim limited resources, ___________ occurs.

aggression

a threatening behavior that one animal uses to gain control over another that may be shown during competition

Communication

The passing of information from one organism to another

visual, auditory, textile (touch), and/or chemical

all the different types of signals animals may use to communicate with each other:

visual

Animals with good eyesight often use ______ signals involving movement + color.

hunting, warning

Communication can function in defense, _______, mating, or _______.

Language

the most complicated form of communication that only humans are currently known to use