Animal Behavior

Stimulus

Any internal or external event or that elicits a response in an animal.

Ex: hormones, virus, temperature, threat

Instinct

Behavior which organismas are born with the ability to perform at the right time. Ex: Beavers building dam

Kinesis

Non-directional movement in response to a stimulus. Ex: cockroaches to light

Taxis

Directional movement toward or away from a stimulus, such as touching something hot

Phototaxis

Directional movement toward or away from light, such as moths flying toward a light.

FIxed action pattern

Complex multistep instinctual responses, such as greylag goose pecking the beak of the parent

Supernormal stimulus

Exaggerated version of stimulus more easily ellicits behavior response, such as oyster catchers brooding on bigger eggs.

Learning

Modification of behavior based on experience, such as positive reinforcements with puppies.

Habituation

Learning to ignore unimportant stimuli, such as air conditioning, clothes amd breathing.

Imprinting

Occurs when you form an attatchment to an object, environment or organism shortly after birth. Ex: Baby geese following Mama

Classical conditioning

Original stimulus associated with behavior replaces with conditioned stimulus. Ex: a bell ringing that signals for dogs

Operant conditioning

Learning through consequences, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened by rewards or punishments. Ex: Dogs not peeing in house

Insight

A type of learning that occurs through a sudden understanding or realization of how to solve a problem, often without trial-and-error. Ex An octopus opening a jar lid from inside

Circadium rhythm

24 hour behavioral rhythm, such as sleep cycle and metabolism

Circalunar rhythm

typically around 29.5 days, influencing behaviors such as reproduction and feeding in various species.

Circannual rhythm

Repeats every 365 days influences behaviors such as hibernation and breeding

Piloting

Following a learned route using landmarks. Ex: Buffalo migrating

Internal compass

Follow an instinctive route by following magnetic fields. Ex: Birds migrating

Reciprocal Altruism

Organisms perform altruistic behaviors with the expectation another orgnism will help them. Ex: Sharing test answers

Inclusive Fitness

Fitness of an organism is the overall reproductive sucess of the individual. Including siblings and children Ex: If you reproduce but your family doesnt your overall fitness decreases

Kin Selection

Natural selection will favor behaviors that benefit relatives b/c their ability to survive and reproduce increases inclusive fitness. Ex: chosing to save a family mamber over a friend

Eusocial organisms

Organisms that live in a heirarchal society. Ex: bees, termites, ants, and naked mole rats.