AP Bio Unit 8: Ecology

ethology

study of how evolutionary processes shape inherited behaviors and the ways that animals response to specific stimuli

proximate cause

how a behavior occurs or how its modified (what was the stimulus to cause this behavior/”nurture”)

ultimate cause

why a behavior occurs in context of natural selection (how does the behavior help survive and reproduce/”nature”)

fixed action patterns (FAPs)

a sequence of unlearned acts directly linked to a stimulus, unchangeable actions, carried out to completion, triggered by external cue (goose retrieving egg)

migration

regular long distance change in location triggered by environmental cues

signal

a stimulus generated and transmitted from one animal to another (animal communication)

pheromones

chemicals emitted by members of the same species

stimulus response chains

when a response to a stimulus serves as the next stimulus for a behavior (ex: animal courtships)

directed movements

movements towards or away from a stimulus

kinesis

change in the rate of movement or the frequency of turning movements in response to a stimulus (nondirectional) ex: lice moving fast in a dry area to get out of it

taxis

directional movement towards (positive) or away from (negative) a stimulus

phototaxis

movement in response to light

chemotaxis

movement in response to chemical signals

geotaxis

movement in response to gravity

learning

the modification of behavior based on specific experiences

imprinting

longlasting behavioral response to an individual during a sensitive period of development (imprints on the first individual they see)

spatial learning

establishing memories based on spatial structures of the animal’s surroundings (ex: birds finding hidden nests)

associative learning

ability to associate one environmental feature with another (ex: associating butterflies with bad taste)

social learning

learning through observations and imitations of observed behaviors (ex: chimps breaking open nuts)

altruism

selfless behavior that reduces the individual fitness but increases the population’s fitness (ex: workers in ant colonies)

phototropism

directional response that allows plants to grow towards (and in some cases away from) a source of light

photoperiodism

allows plants to develop in response to day length, plants flower only at certain times of year