Animal behavior Exam 3

Survival, Navigation, Migration

Anti-Predator Behavior

tactics used by prey animals to ward off predators

What is “Optimality Theory”?

Adaptations help animals “fit” in their environment

**fit might not be perfect**

What are the two reasons that “fit” might not be perfect?

(1) The environment changes; it takes time to adapt to change

(2) Sometimes costs are acceptable if they are associated with an even bigger benefit

What does the term “Evolutionary Arms Race” actually mean?

If natural selection operates on prey defensive behaviors, then it should also act on predators’ ability to overcome these defenses

Antagonistic Plieotropy

when one trait increases fitness and another trait decreases fitness

What is plieotopy?

when a single gene produces multiple phenotypic traits

Alarm Signals

a signal given after a predator is sighted to alert other members of the species

in some species, different signals may signal different threats

Inspection (part of communication)

some prey will approach predators when they first encounter them

often to gain information, like location and motivation

Fear Response

adaptive behavior (and feelings) that arise to deal with a realistic threat

Phobias

a response that is wildy out of proportion to threat level (Mal-adaptive)

Error Bias

We tend to react to potentially fear inducing stimuli before being conciously aware of them (inefficient use of energy)

Which Error Type from the Error Management Theory is more destructive?

“Type II” Errors (False negatives)

The Amygdala

A subcortical brain structure that contributes to emotional processing, especially fear

What is “Parallel Processing” in the Amygdala?

the two responses to emotions like fear

1. Fast and unconcious (has a survival value)

2. Slow and concious (more modern)

Auditory Looming Bias

Changes in approaching sounds are more noticeable than changes in receding sounds

What happens when we see spiders or snakes in a visual scene?

they POP OUT (cognitive bias- attention)

Visual Looming Bias

approaching spiders are judged to be moving more quickly than lady bugs or rubber balls approaching at the same speed

How might a psychologist explain disgust?

It is an emotion related to “our behavorial immune system”

Orientiation

the directional aspect of behavior (animals position their behavior in relation to or away from some point of reference)

Navagation

the process by which animals maintain their positions with repect to reference points as they move through their enivronment

What are examples of Direct Navigation?

Using a continually sensed trail or landmark

Egocentric Navigational Cues (“self-centered”)

finding your way by mapping your movement relative to your own body rather than a fixed map of the world

• vestibular cues, proprioceptive cues, sensory flow cues

Allocentric Navigational Cues (“world-centered”)

a set of stable environmental cues (landmarks)

1. have a fixed relationship to one another

2. are independent of the navigator

Route-Based Navigation

movement from one place to another by following a scripted “procedure” of turns and intermediate landmarks (can be memorized and automated)

Path Integration

consolidation of outbound path experiences to derive a straight path homeward

Piloting

switching at fequent intervals from one discrete landmark to another

Which brain area is associated with Map-based navigation?

hippocampus

Which things are associated with compass-based navigation?

sun, stars, and even the earth’s magnetic field

What is “true navigation”?

Using cognitive maps and compass course to target a location (homing pigeons, fish, turtles, and other birds)

Inbreeding Depression

Reduced biological fitness, survival, and fertility that occurs in a population when closely related individuals mate