Animal Behavior QUIZ 2

lectures 5-8

motivation

the process within the brain controlling which behaviors and physiological changes occur and when

stereotypical behaviors

discussed alongside motivation

causal factor

input to a decision making center (brain) that requires interpretation after previous experience

external changes and internal states associated with causal factors

environment stimuli, social situation, internal factors

example of causal factor

sow levels and particular combinations of hormones make them highly motivated to nest-build

motivational state

a combination of the levels of all causal factors

decision-making

brain monitors the causal factors and based on previous experience the animal will then be able to make a decision

causal factor variation

can vary over a wide range

causal factor relations

may be related or may compete with one another (an animal that is very thirsty will be very hungry)

appetitive behavior

searching for the suitable external stimuli

consummatory behavior

encountering the stimuli and utilizing it (searching for then eating food)

behavior and motivation relationship

an animal may have a tendency to do something due to a combination of factors but the resulting behavior may not be a direct connection

motivation and behavior relationship example

an animal may have several causal factors resulting in motivation to feed (hormones, visibility of prey, offspring to feed) but due to some other long term strategy (waiting till dark to hunt) it may not

what motivation is not

not reflex, not a learned behavior, not a result of developmental processes

what motivation is

a mechanistic explanation for why an animal is currently performing a particular behavior pattern

measuring motivation

many causal factors cannot be measured directly (hunger)

physiological factors associated can be measured (glucose, brainwaves)

what measuring motivation relies on

experimentation and manipulation of motivational state 

measure amount of activity and observe patterns associated

measure how frequently it is performed and how long it is performed each time

elasticity of behavior

how likely a behavior is to occur in the face of increasing cost

(how motivated an animal is to perform behavior)

elastic behavior

Small increases in cost will cause large decreases in performance of the behavior

inelastic behavior

the cost is essentially irrelevant & performance will continue regardless of cost

rebound behavior

a behavior that occurs at an increased rate or frequency after a period of being unable to perform

Stereotypic Behavior

repetitive, unchanging behavior pattern that has no function or obvious goal

stereotypic behavior classification

bad behavior

cause of stereotypic behavior

way to cope with stressful circumstances

biological rhythm

cyclic change in behavior or internal physiological process that occurs at a regular rate in an organism

types of rhythms

exogenous and endogenous

Exogenous rhythms

depend on external stimuli in order to persist regularly

Endogenous rhythms

Rhythms that are independent of external stimuli and rely on internal clock mechanisms

Internal Clock Mechanism

Self-regulating, self-sustaining neural signals that occur at regular intervals

High Frequency Rhythm

Rhythms that occur in short periods (<30 min)

High Frequency Rhythm example

heart rate

Ultradian Rhythm

Rhythms with a period between 30 minutes – 24 hours

Ultradian Rhythm example

Growth Hormone (GH) production from the pituitary gland in cattle

feeding behavior (every few hours)

Circadian/Diurnal Rhythms

repeat approximately every 24 hours

Infradian Rhythm

Longer than 24h

Infradian Rhythm example

Cyclicity of polyestrous animals (21 days for cow & sow, 17-24 days for mare), Reproductive hormone levels & behavior

Annual Rhythm

Repeats annually

annual rhythm example

Seasonal Breeders

zugunruhe (annual rhythm)

anxious behavior that migratory animals exhibit when unable to migrate

circadian rhythm

Most well-studied

Period of ~24 hours

Influenced by a Zeitgeber – “Time Giver”

circadian Rhythm example

sleep/wake cycle, mammal hormone secretion, body temperature

circadian Rhythm properties

Must be 24h period 

Must be an endogenous rhythm

Must persist (at least for a time) in constant conditions

“Free Running” rhythm

Must be able to reset or “entrain” to an environmental factor

Internal Clock Mechanism

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Paired nuclei (clusters of cells) that regulates circadian rhythms

each cell is own clock with own electric signals

work together to create 24 hour rhythm

where SCN live

just above the Optic Chiasm (Supra-Chiasmatic)

Diurnal Rhythm

24 hour rhythms that rely on external cues in order to persist

Diurnal Rhythm example

foraging/hunting, stereotypies, poultry perching behavior

sleep

4 levels

measured via EEG (electroencephalogram)

Alert Wakefulness

Eyes fully open

drowsiness

relaxed upper eyelids

High arousal threshold / reduced alertness

Alert Wakefulness EEG

low voltage, fast activity output

Drowsiness EEG

combination low voltage/high activity and high voltage/slow activity

quiet sleep

Eyes closed or nearly closed, even more required to arouse

quiet sleep EEG

all high voltage/slow activity

Active Sleep (REM Sleep)

Eyes fully closed

Active Sleep (REM Sleep) EEG

low voltage/fast activity (like wakefulness)

“Paradoxical sleep”

REM

Rapid eye movement

communication

transfer of information from sender to receiver

sender & receiver map a signal to particular meaning

language

communication with syntax

syntax

formal structuring of the signals in relation to each other

not required for communication

intention or conscious processing

plants

can communicate

sender cues

variable or constant

variable sender cues

Can be present or absent as the animal chooses

Often comes at an energetic cost to the “sender”

variable sender cue example

vocalizations

constant sender cues

always present; cannot be “turned off”

Requires no extra energetic cost from the “sender”

constant sender cue example

bright coloration

Senses utilized in communication

every sense

auditory sense

Piglets scream when they are being excluded from the current nursing episode

visual sense

Sage Grouse puff up & inflate air sacs, open their tail feathers, & strut around in order to attract mates

olfactory sense

Cats communicate information to one another about territory, friendliness, social group, & promoting bonding

feline Facial Pheromone (f3)

affiliated with scent marking & potentially a feeling of “belonging”

Cat Appeasing Pheromone (CAP)

queen  kittens (Feliway Multicat) Relieves multi-cat conflict)

Feline Interdigital Semiochemical (FIS)

(Feliscratch) Helps cats scratch on their scratching post rather than furniture

touch sense

Elephants touch or wrap trunks in greeting Subordinate elephants will put their trunk in a superior elephant’s mouth to greet them and show their submission

vibration sense

Stink bugs communicate their species and sex to others by specific vibration communication on plants

Vibrate lifted wings, resulting in vibration of the abdomen and the leaf it is on

Types of signals

depends on the capabilities of the animal performing it, and what their environment would allow

reason for communication

impart something important and vital to survival

honest signaling

benefits both the sender and the receiver, and is an accurate portrayal of what is being communicated

Deceit behavior

often to the benefit of the sender to mislead the receiver

Batesian Mimicry deceit

species that has no capacity to harm another species has evolved traits or characteristics of harmful species in order to evade predation

Crypsis deceit

Camouflage, mimicry of inedible surroundings, and blending into nocturnal surroundings

neigh

greeting

nicker

care-giving

snort/squeal

alarm call/frustration

horse olfactory signals

pheromones

bark

territorial call

whine

care-soliciting, seeking warmth, nourishment, & relief from stress or pain

growl

aggressive & distancing communication

chirps

queen —> kittens when nursing

growl/hiss/spit

antagonistic

chatter

when restrained from hunting

high tail carriage

greeting, investigating, frustrating

ears forward

engaged, interested, calm

halloween cat (ears back, tail erect)

fearful

short grunt

response to familiar sounds or sights, or while rooting

pig bark

startled

screams

hungry piglet or pig in distress

Facial muscle tension & low ears

pain