Animal BehaviorAnimal Behavior

Behavior is what an animal does Behavior is what an animal does and how it does it.and how it does it.

Result of genetic and environmental Result of genetic and environmental factorsfactors

Essential for survival and Essential for survival and reproductionreproduction

Subject of natural selection over timeSubject of natural selection over time

Behavior can be simple or Behavior can be simple or extremely complex.extremely complex.

Bacterial cell “behaves” by moving Bacterial cell “behaves” by moving toward a sugar source.toward a sugar source.

Allows bacteria to live and Allows bacteria to live and reproduce.reproduce.

Animals with complex nervous Animals with complex nervous systems receive and process large systems receive and process large amounts or information and produce amounts or information and produce complex patterns of behavior.complex patterns of behavior.

Ethology is the study of BehaviorEthology is the study of Behavior

Behavior can be explained in two different Behavior can be explained in two different waysways

PROXIMATE CAUSATION answers the PROXIMATE CAUSATION answers the “what and how” questions.“what and how” questions.

Proximate includes effects of heredity, Proximate includes effects of heredity, environment, and sensory-motor environment, and sensory-motor mechanisms.mechanisms.

ULTIMATE CAUSATION answers the “why” ULTIMATE CAUSATION answers the “why” questions.questions.

Ultimate studies origin and evolution of Ultimate studies origin and evolution of behavior in terms of reproductive success.behavior in terms of reproductive success.

Questions: Male songbird sings.Questions: Male songbird sings.

Proximate cause Proximate cause asks how.asks how.

Measure hormone Measure hormone levels.levels.

Examine neuron Examine neuron connections.connections.

Ultimate cause Ultimate cause asks why.asks why.

Evolutionary value.Evolutionary value. Defense of territoryDefense of territory Attract femalesAttract females

Fig. 51-2Fig. 51-2

Founding fathers of Founding fathers of EthologyEthology

Karl von Frisch, Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen won Karl von Frisch, Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen won the Nobel Prize for their work in the study of innate the Nobel Prize for their work in the study of innate

behavior.behavior.

Innate BehaviorInnate Behavior

Stereotyped behaviors that occur in Stereotyped behaviors that occur in the same way in different individuals the same way in different individuals of a species.of a species.

Behavior pathways are structured in Behavior pathways are structured in genetic blueprints.genetic blueprints.

Behavior occurs the same way from Behavior occurs the same way from the first time and throughout the the first time and throughout the entire life of the animal.entire life of the animal.

Fixed Action PatternsFixed Action Patterns

FAP is a sequence of unlearned acts FAP is a sequence of unlearned acts that is largely unchangeable and that is largely unchangeable and usually carried to completion once usually carried to completion once initiated.initiated.

A sign stimuli is a “signal” in the A sign stimuli is a “signal” in the environment that triggers a FAP environment that triggers a FAP behavior.behavior.

Fig. 51-3Fig. 51-3

Male stickleback fish have Male stickleback fish have red bellies.red bellies.

Female stickleback fish have Female stickleback fish have swollen, not red bellies.swollen, not red bellies.

Males react aggressively to Males react aggressively to red underbellies and also to red underbellies and also to anything that resembles red anything that resembles red underbellies.underbellies.

Males do not react Males do not react aggressively to swollen aggressively to swollen underbellies or models that underbellies or models that do not have red underbellies.do not have red underbellies.

(b)

(a)

Egg Rolling in GeeseEgg Rolling in Geese Once a goose detects the sign stimuli,( in Once a goose detects the sign stimuli,( in

this case an egg out of the nest), the this case an egg out of the nest), the goose goes through a series of goose goes through a series of programmed movements to return egg to programmed movements to return egg to nest.nest.

The goose will roll baseballs and even beer The goose will roll baseballs and even beer cans into nest.cans into nest.

It will then remove the objects that are not It will then remove the objects that are not eggs.eggs.

Fig. 51-4Fig. 51-4

Dry openarea

Sowbug

Moist siteunder leaf

Kinesis is a simple movement in response to a Kinesis is a simple movement in response to a stimuli.stimuli.

Animals become more or less active in response Animals become more or less active in response to stimuli, without any real orientationto stimuli, without any real orientation

A Taxis is movement toward or A Taxis is movement toward or away from a stimulus.away from a stimulus.

mitosismitosis

Migration is a long regular Migration is a long regular change in location.change in location.

Observed in birds, fish, other animalsObserved in birds, fish, other animals Often pass through environments Often pass through environments

have never visited.have never visited. How do they find their way?How do they find their way?

– Can orient themselves using sun.Can orient themselves using sun.– Nocturnal animals can use the North Nocturnal animals can use the North

Star.Star.– Some evidence that some animals can Some evidence that some animals can

detect the earths magnetic field.detect the earths magnetic field.

Fig. 51-5Fig. 51-5

Behavioral RhythmsBehavioral Rhythms

Circadian clock is an internal Circadian clock is an internal mechansim that maintains a 24 hour mechansim that maintains a 24 hour activity cycle.activity cycle.

Circannual rhythms are linked to the Circannual rhythms are linked to the yearly cycle of seasons.yearly cycle of seasons.

Some behavioral cycles are linked to Some behavioral cycles are linked to the new and full moon. the new and full moon.

The behavioral cycles of the fiddler The behavioral cycles of the fiddler crab are linked to the tides that cover crab are linked to the tides that cover and uncover its burrow.and uncover its burrow.

Animal Signals and Animal Signals and CommunicationCommunication

A stimulus transmitted from one A stimulus transmitted from one animal to another is called a signal.animal to another is called a signal.

The transmission and reception of The transmission and reception of signals between animals is signals between animals is communication.communication.

In courtship of fruit flies: a) male recognizes female,In courtship of fruit flies: a) male recognizes female,(visual communication) then female releases (visual communication) then female releases chemicals to attract male (chemical communication).chemicals to attract male (chemical communication).

In b) male taps female’s foreleg (tactile In b) male taps female’s foreleg (tactile communication, then c) male rubs his wings communication, then c) male rubs his wings

together, creating a “song”.together, creating a “song”.

(a) Orienting (b) Tapping (c) “Singing”

Honey Bee Dance LanguageHoney Bee Dance Language

(a) Worker bees Round dance(food near)

(b)

Waggle dance(food distant)

(c)

Beehive

30°

A

C

B

A B CLocation Location Location

30°

Pheromones are chemical Pheromones are chemical substances that communicate substances that communicate

through emitted odors.through emitted odors.

Serve as reproductive attractantsServe as reproductive attractants Trigger specific courtship behaviorsTrigger specific courtship behaviors Can be used to communicate dangerCan be used to communicate danger

Fig. 51-9Fig. 51-9Minnowsbeforealarm

(a)

Minnowsafteralarm

(b)

Learning is the modification of Learning is the modification of behavior based on specific behavior based on specific

experiencesexperiences Habituation is one of the simplest forms of Habituation is one of the simplest forms of

learning.learning. Habituation is the loss of responsiveness to Habituation is the loss of responsiveness to

stimuli that conveys little or no new information.stimuli that conveys little or no new information. ““Cry Wolf Effect”Cry Wolf Effect” Time and energy can be applied to finding food, Time and energy can be applied to finding food,

or mate and not wasted on irrelevant stimuli.or mate and not wasted on irrelevant stimuli.

Imprinting is a behavior that involves both Imprinting is a behavior that involves both innate and learned componentsinnate and learned components

Long lasting behavioral Long lasting behavioral response to a particular response to a particular individual.individual.

Must occur during a Must occur during a sensitive period of sensitive period of developmentdevelopment

Young imprint on their Young imprint on their parent and learn basic parent and learn basic behaviors of their species.behaviors of their species.

Some birds will respond to Some birds will respond to first object they see that first object they see that has certain characteristics.has certain characteristics. (a) Konrad Lorenz and geese

Fig. 51-10bFig. 51-10b

(b) Pilot and cranes

Associative LearningAssociative Learning

After eating a monarch butterfly After eating a monarch butterfly catepillar (has bad taste), mouse catepillar (has bad taste), mouse avoids in the future.avoids in the future.

The ability to associate one The ability to associate one environmental feature with another environmental feature with another is associative learning.is associative learning.

Two types of associative learning: Two types of associative learning: classical conditioning and operant classical conditioning and operant conditioning.conditioning.

In classical conditioning, an arbitrary In classical conditioning, an arbitrary stimulus becomes with a particular outcome stimulus becomes with a particular outcome – “Pavlov’s Dog”– “Pavlov’s Dog”

Operant Operant Conditioning is Conditioning is the result of trial the result of trial and error.and error.

Cognition is the most complex form of Cognition is the most complex form of learninglearning..

Processes of Processes of knowingknowing

AwarenessAwareness ReasoningReasoning RecollectionRecollection judgementjudgement

Agonistic Behavior often involves ritualistic contest Agonistic Behavior often involves ritualistic contest that determines which competitor gains access to that determines which competitor gains access to a resource, such as food or mates. a resource, such as food or mates.

Altruism Altruism Reduction of individual fitness to Reduction of individual fitness to

increase the fitness of other increase the fitness of other individuals in the population.individuals in the population.

Belding squirrels give high pitched Belding squirrels give high pitched alarm call to warn unaware alarm call to warn unaware individuals, but draw attention of individuals, but draw attention of predator to themselves.predator to themselves.

Honeybee workers are sterile and Honeybee workers are sterile and devote all their energy and labor on devote all their energy and labor on behalf of a single fertile female.behalf of a single fertile female.

Why Altruism?Why Altruism?

The principle of inclusive fitness may The principle of inclusive fitness may answer the why.answer the why.

Altruism only exists among close relatives Altruism only exists among close relatives – parent sacrifices life to protect young, or – parent sacrifices life to protect young, or siblings, but not distant cousins.siblings, but not distant cousins.

Makes sense evolutionarily. These genes Makes sense evolutionarily. These genes are closest to individual and keeps those are closest to individual and keeps those who share genes in the population.who share genes in the population.

Natural selection that favors altruistic Natural selection that favors altruistic behavior by enhancing the reproductive behavior by enhancing the reproductive success of relatives is “kin selection”.success of relatives is “kin selection”.

Social learning is the basis of culture and Social learning is the basis of culture and is defined as the transfer of informationis defined as the transfer of informationthrough copying behavior of other membersthrough copying behavior of other membersof the population and the teaching of the of the population and the teaching of the behavior. behavior.

Fig. 51-32Fig. 51-32