Normal behaviour: Wild and kept animals and the concept of highly motivated behaviours

Week 3

Define Animal behaviour?

Animal behaviour is the scientific study of everything an animal does and how it interacts with its environment, other animals, and internal biological cue

Define Stereotypic behaviour?

A behaviour that is repetitive with no obvious function due to boredom, frustration, needs not met, coping mechanism and fulfilling an unmet need.

Define Wild

non-domesticated, avoid human contact; free-ranging (in situ) and captive
(ex situ)

Define Domesticated

Selectively bred over multiple generations; physical and behavioural changes compared with wild counterpart

Define Exotic

non-native in terms of habitat, geographical region or country

Define Tame

typically wild animal tolerant of human presence or interaction

Define Habituated

accustomed to human presence or interaction

What Factors can affect behaviour?

Internal + External Stimuli

How does Telos affect behaviour?

It creates a strong neurobiological drive to perform specific, natural behaviours. If an animal is blocked from fulfilling its telos, it can lead to severe frustration and behavioural issues.

How do Umwelt affect animal behaviour?

Do not experience the entire environment; instead, they interact only with "significant elements" that matter to them (things that are interesting, important, or relevant to their survival

What Other Factors affect animal behaviour?

• Sentience: The ability to feel, experience emotions and be aware of the environment.

• Affective states: Positive or negative emotions, such as pleasure, fear, comfort or stress.

• Welfare needs: Food, water, shelter, health, safety and opportunities to perform natural behaviours.

• Five Domains: Nutrition, physical environment, health, behavioural interactions and mental state.

• Choice: The ability to choose between different options.

• Control: The ability to influence the environment and what happens to the animal.

• Value: How important or rewarding something is to the animal.

What are Tinbergen’s four questions also known as?

The four “whys” of behaviour.

Adaptation

Phylogeny

Ontogeny

Mechanism

What is proximate causation?

Explanations of behaviour relating to the individual organism, including ontogeny and mechanism.

What is ontogeny question in Tinbergen’s four questions? ?

Ontogeny looks at how a behaviour develops during an individual animal’s lifetime, from birth to adulthood.

What is mechanism question in Tinbergen’s four questions??

In animal behaviour, mechanism asks: What causes the behaviour to happen?

It looks at the immediate factors that trigger a behaviour, such as hormones, the nervous system, environmental stimuli or sensory information.

What is the adaptation question in Tinbergen’s four questions?

In animal behaviour, adaptation asks: How does the behaviour help an animal survive and reproduce?

It looks at how a behaviour benefits an animal by improving its chances of survival or reproductive success.

What is the phylogeny question in Tinbergen’s four questions?

The evolutionary history of a species or behaviour, examining how it has evolved over generations.