bio section 1

Three defining characteristics of an animal

Feeds on organic matter, can move, and is multicellular/eukaryotic with collagen-producing cells.

Definition of animal behavior

How an animal interacts with other organisms, internal signals, and its physical environment.

External stimulus

Something outside the animal that causes a response.

Internal stimulus

A signal originating inside the animal, such as feeling cold or hungry.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with their environment.

Six ecological levels in order from smallest to largest

Organism $\rightarrow$ Population $\rightarrow$ Community $\rightarrow$ Ecosystem $\rightarrow$ Biome $\rightarrow$ Biosphere.

Keystone species

A species that is essential to an ecosystem; removing it can cause major ecosystem changes.

Eight taxonomic levels in order from broadest to most specific

Domain $\rightarrow$ Kingdom $\rightarrow$ Phylum $\rightarrow$ Class $\rightarrow$ Order $\rightarrow$ Family $\rightarrow$ Genus $\rightarrow$ Species.

Binomial nomenclature

The two-part scientific naming system consisting of Genus + species.

Purpose of a phylogenetic tree

Shows evolutionary relationships between organisms.

What a node represents on a phylogenetic tree

A common ancestor.

Evolution

Genetic change in a population over generations.

Natural selection

The process where environmental pressures favor certain inherited traits, causing them to become more common.

Biological fitness

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.

True or False: Evolution occurs because organisms "need" to change.

False. Evolution is not intentional.

Genetic variation

Differences in genes or traits among individuals in a population, necessary for evolution by natural selection.

Key lesson from the peppered moth example

Environmental conditions can cause natural selection to favor one pre-existing variation over another.

Instinctual behavior

A behavior primarily controlled by genes.

Learned behavior

A behavior acquired through experience or environment.

Kin selection

Helping relatives can increase the survival of shared genes.

Ethology

The scientific study of animal behavior.

Three major pioneers of ethology

Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, and Karl von Frisch.

Phenomenon studied extensively by Konrad Lorenz

Imprinting.

Animal communication studied by Karl von Frisch

Honeybee communication and dances.

Tinbergen's Four Questions

Cause (Mechanism), Development (Ontogeny), Function (Adaptation), and History (Evolution).

Tinbergen's Question: Cause / Mechanism

What triggers the behavior right now?

Tinbergen's Question: Development / Ontogeny

How did the behavior develop during the animal's life?

Tinbergen's Question: Function / Adaptation

How does the behavior help survival and reproduction?

Tinbergen's Question: History / Evolution

How did the behavior evolve across generations?

Anthropomorphism

Interpreting animal behavior using human emotions or behavior as the reference.

Can observational studies prove cause and effect?

No. They only show patterns and associations.

Primary advantage of laboratory experiments in ethology

They allow researchers to control variables and test cause and effect.

Ethogram

A standardized, detailed list or description of behaviors used to measure them consistently.

Inter-rater reliability

How consistently different researchers identify and record the same behavior.