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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
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