Animal Behavior

Behavior is what an

animal does and how it does

it.

Behavior Two Types of Questions Proximate:

what triggers the behavior? Ultimate:

Why was this behavior selected for over others?

Influenced by both Genes Environment

What are the different types of Behaviors

Instinct Imprinting Conditioning –Associative

learning Classical & Operant Insight

1. Instinct A behavior that is

innate, or inherited.

Genetic Programming w/ influences

Developmentally Fixed

Kittiwake Gulls young born on cliffYoung innately adverse to cliffs, stay away from edges……WHY?Those genetically not afraid fell off….eliminated from gene pool

Innate behavior Ethology: study of how animals perform

these unique behaviors w/o seeing them done before?

FAP (Fixed Action Pattern) Unchangeable behavior, carried to

completion External sensory signal (sign stimulus) Triggers response

Stickleback Fish

FAP in HumanInfant smileInfant grasping objects

Innate Behaviors can be trickedMayflies lays eggs on waterTar Roads and black plastic reflect as waterMayflies lay eggs on these also

Learning Modification of behavior from specific

experiences Innate behaviors improve w/

experience Young give indiscriminant alarms

If false, no adult response If true, adult also gives alarm

Accuracy improves with age

Maturation

Behavior change b/c of developmental structures

Baby birds restricted to NO use of wings (never flap when young)

Still fly at appropriate age Neuromuscular skill development

2. Imprinting

A form of learning that occurs during a “Sensitive period.”

Usually irreversible Example – Salmon,

Geese Ducklings

“Sensitive Period”

Konrad Lorenz1903-1989

Conducted an experiment with geese that showed imprinting behaviors.

He replaced the mother.

Developed the concept of “sensitive period”

3. Classical Conditioning

Associative learning occurs when an animal recognized that 2 or more events are connected.

Ivan Pavlov1849-1936

Using dogs demonstrated the phenomenon of conditioned reflex.

Made his dog salivate by ringing a bell. First, gave dog

food when bell rang.

Second, rang bell no food.

Operant Conditioning

Trial and error learning.

Learn in order to receive a reward. Habituation is

another form, occurs when an animal learns not to respond to a stimulus.

Skinner Box

B.F.Skinner

Introduced trial and error learning or operant conditioning.

Placed mice in a “Skinner box” that had levers. Some levers lead to a reward. Mice learned to push these levers.

InsightAnimal Cognition

The highest form of learning. Usually by higher animals.

The ability to figure out a behavior that generates a desired outcome.

Reasoning

Cognitive Mechanisms Kinesis: change in

activity, sow bugs activity change w/ humidity

Taxis: Movement, orientation of trout upstream

Landmarks (Tinbergen Exp)

Cognitive Maps: Jays and cache location

Migration Behavior Piloting Orientation Navigation

Social Behaviors

Interactions Aggression Courtship Deception

Sociobiology Evolutionary

theory Social behavior

Conflict and Competition

Agonistic Behavior

Agonistic behavior is a contest involving threats. Submissive

behavior. Ritual: the use of

symbolic activity. Test of strength Generally, no harm

is done. Reconciliation

Behavior

Dominance Hierarchies

Dominance hierarchies involve a ranking of individuals in a social group (a “pecking order”). Alpha, beta

rankings exist. The alpha organisms

control the behavior of others.

Territoriality Territoriality is

behavior where an individual defends a particular area, called the territory. Territories are

typically used for feeding, mating, and rearing young and are fixed in location.

Courtship

Behavior that leads to copulation

Establishes maturity readiness

Establishes opposite sex

Establishes health condition

Ways Animals Communicate

Chemical Visual Auditory Tactile

Chemical

Use pheromones to trigger a behavior. Releasers –

immediate Moths use these to

attract a mate. Ants mark trails

Primer – physiological changes.

Territorial uses – dogs, cats, mice, etc..

Visual

Many visual displays are observed during acts of agonistic behaviors as well as courtship.

Auditory

Use to communicate over long distances, through water and at night. Whales Elephants Frogs Birds

Tactile

Touching promotes social bonding, infant care grooming and mating.

Altruistic BehaviorUnselfish Behavior

Altruism is defined as behavior that mightdecrease individual fitness, but increase the fitness of others.