Biology - Chapter 35

Information off the notes

Behavior

the sum of an animal's actions, carried out in response to internal and external environmental cues

Behavioral Ecology

the study of behavior in an evolutionary context

Two Broad Behavioral Ecology Categories

1. Proximate Questions
2. Ultimate Questions

Proximate Questions

concern the immediate reason for a behavior (how)

Ultimate Questions

evolutionary explanations for a behavior (why)

Innate Behaviors

behaviors that are not learned

Fixed Action Patterns (FAPs)

a series of actions triggered by a specific stimulus, once started, the sequence has to be performed in its entirety

Studies have shown that behaviors...

have both a genetic component as well as an environmental component

Learning

The modification of behavior due to specific experiences

Habituation

Learning to ignore a repeated stimulus

Imprinting

Critical learning about home, parents, and signals. It is limited to a specific sensitive period.

Spatial Learning

Establishing memories of landmarks

Spatial Learning includes

Kinesis, Positive Taxis, and Migration

Kinesis

Moving toward a positive area and away from a negative area

Positive Taxis

Seen with fish swimming upstream to a spawning ground

Migration

develop symbolic cognitive maps

Associative Learning

Links a behavior with a reward or punishment

(includes trial and error)

Social Learning

Acquired by observing others

Problem Solving

Inventive behavior that arises in response to a new situation

Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) example

Geese with eggs

Habituation Example

Ignoring background noise

Spatial Learning Example

Squirrels burring nuts

Migration Example

Whales + Birds

Associative Learning Example

Dog associates eating with the sound of a bell

Social Learning Example

Learning from teachers

Problem Solving Example

Math

Foraging

A food obtaining behavior

Optimal Foraging Theory

An animal's feeding behavior should provide maximum energy gain with minimum energy expense and risk

Search Images

One way to find food efficiently

Communication

The sending, receiving, and responding to signals

Communication can occur through...

Sounds, Visuals, Chemicals (smells)

Communication is...

More important and complex in social species

Reproductive success can be enhanced through...

Mating Behaviors and Parental Care

Mating Behaviors

Can include elaborate courtship rituals

Mating Behavior \---\> Courtship Ritual Example

Bird songs

Bird dances

Mating Systems

Promiscuous

Monogamous

Polygamous

Promiscuous Mating System

no strong bonding between pairs

Monogamous Mating System

A bond between a male and female with shared care over young

Polygamous Mating System

One male with several females (typically)

Social Behavior

Any kind of interaction between two or more animals of the same species

Social Behaviors include

Defending territory, agnostic behaviors, dominance hierarchy, and altruism

Territory

an area that one or more individuals defend and from which other members of the same species are excluded

Territory Example

Land (used for raising young)

Agnostic Behaviors

Used when conflicts arise over limited resources like food, mates, or territories

Agnostic Behavior Example

A rattlesnake rattling

Dominance Hierarchy

A ranking of individuals based on social interactions

Dominance Hierarchy Example

Wolves

Hens

Altruism

A behavior that reduces an individual's fitness while increasing the fitness of others

Kin Selection

Natural selection which favors altruistic behavior towards relatives

Human Behavior is...

Shaped by both genetics and environmental factors

Studies with identical twins suggest

Half of behavior is genetics and half is products of the environment