Tinbergen's Four Questions

• Control: How does it work?
• Ontogeny: How did it develop?
• Function: What is it for?
• Evolution: How did it evolve?

Control of Behaviour

• Simple behaviours include reflexes, kinesis, taxis.
• Control mechanisms: neural, hormonal, diurnal, tidal, and social.

Reflexes

• Automatic responses to external signals (e.g., blinking, sneezing).

Kinesis

• Change in activity rate responding to stimuli with no orientation.

Taxis

• Movement towards or away from a stimulus (e.g., plankton behaviors).

Neural Control of Behaviour

• Requires complex nervous systems; involves feedback mechanisms.

Human Nervous System

• Central nervous system (CNS) vs. peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Hormonal Control of Behaviour

• Hormones influence behavior and development (e.g., testosterone).

Temporal Patterns of Behaviour

• Seasonal, lunar, and circadian rhythms influence behavior.

Activity Rhythms

• Example: Horseshoe crabs spawn during specific lunar phases.

Social Control of Behaviour

• Influences include male displays and female preferences in courtship.

Controlling Others

• Examples: Fiddler crabs signaling to rivals and mates.

Conclusion

• Behaviour control involves internal (hormones, learning) and external (environmental factors) influences.
• Complex behaviours are often linked to complex nervous systems.