Animal Behavior Chapter 45. Animal Behavior 2Outline Nature versus Nurture: Genetic Influences...

Animal BehaviorChapter 45

2Animal BehavioAnimal Behaviorr

OutlineOutlineNature versus Nurture: Genetic InfluencesNature versus Nurture: Genetic Influences

Nature versus Nurture: Environmental Nature versus Nurture: Environmental InfluencesInfluences LearningLearning

Adaptive Mating BehaviorAdaptive Mating Behavior Female ChoiceFemale Choice Male CompetitionMale Competition Dominance HierarchyDominance Hierarchy TerritorialityTerritoriality Animal CommunicationAnimal Communication

Sociobiology and Animal BehaviorSociobiology and Animal Behavior

Altruism versus Self-InterestAltruism versus Self-Interest


Genetic BasisGenetic BasisBehavior - observable and coordinated Behavior - observable and coordinated responses to environmental stimuliresponses to environmental stimuli

Nature (inherited) versus nurture Nature (inherited) versus nurture (environmental) questions are still (environmental) questions are still debateddebated

Genes influence development of neural and Genes influence development of neural and hormonal mechanisms controlling behaviorhormonal mechanisms controlling behavior

Studies on identical twins separated at birthStudies on identical twins separated at birth

Can be used to determine extent of inherited Can be used to determine extent of inherited behaviorbehavior

Sometimes remarkably similar in preferences, Sometimes remarkably similar in preferences, taste, personality tests, etc.taste, personality tests, etc.

4Nest Building Behavior in Lovebirds

5Feeding Behavior in Garter Snakes


Behavior Undergoes DevelopmentBehavior Undergoes Development

Some behaviors seem to be Some behaviors seem to be stereotypedstereotyped

Fixed Action Patterns (FAP’s)Fixed Action Patterns (FAP’s)

Originally assumed to be elicited by a Originally assumed to be elicited by a sign stimulussign stimulus

Increasingly thought to develop after Increasingly thought to develop after practicepractice


The Phenomenon of LearningThe Phenomenon of Learning

Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning

Gradual strengthening of stimulus-Gradual strengthening of stimulus-response correctionsresponse corrections

Trick-training in birdsTrick-training in birds

ImprintingImprinting

Imitate behavior observed during Imitate behavior observed during sensitive periodsensitive period

Goslings follow any moving object Goslings follow any moving object after birthafter birth


The Phenomenon of LearningThe Phenomenon of Learning

Song Learning in BirdsSong Learning in Birds

Avian brain is especially sensitive to Avian brain is especially sensitive to acoustical stimuli during a sensitive acoustical stimuli during a sensitive periodperiod

Social experience appears to have an Social experience appears to have an even stronger influence over even stronger influence over development of singingdevelopment of singing

9Pecking Behavior in Laughing Gulls

10Classical Conditioning


Behavior Is AdaptiveBehavior Is Adaptive

Sexual selection - Adaptive changes in Sexual selection - Adaptive changes in females and males that lead to females and males that lead to differential reproductive successdifferential reproductive success

12Raggiana Bird of Paradise


Female ChoiceFemale Choice

Courtship displays help males and Courtship displays help males and females recognize each other for females recognize each other for successful matingsuccessful mating

Good Genes HypothesisGood Genes Hypothesis

Females benefit from selective choice Females benefit from selective choice by securing sperm with good genesby securing sperm with good genes

Run-Away HypothesisRun-Away Hypothesis

Females choose mates on the basis of Females choose mates on the basis of traits that make them attractive to traits that make them attractive to femalesfemales


Male CompetitionMale CompetitionIs access to mating is worth the cost of Is access to mating is worth the cost of competition among malescompetition among malesQuestion is studied by cost-benefit Question is studied by cost-benefit analysesanalyses

Do positive effects (benefits) outweigh Do positive effects (benefits) outweigh negative effects (costs)?negative effects (costs)? If yesIf yes

The behavior is evolutionarily stableThe behavior is evolutionarily stable The behavior will survive or increaseThe behavior will survive or increase

If noIf no The behavior is evolutionarily UNstableThe behavior is evolutionarily UNstable The behavior will decrease or disappearThe behavior will decrease or disappear


Dominance HierarchyDominance Hierarchy

Males and females have separate Males and females have separate dominance hierarchiesdominance hierarchies

Higher-ranking individuals have Higher-ranking individuals have greater access to essential resourcesgreater access to essential resources

Baboons form temporary consort pairs Baboons form temporary consort pairs with femaleswith females

Males may monopolize estrous femalesMales may monopolize estrous females

Or may assist females or form Or may assist females or form friendship groups to secure future friendship groups to secure future matingsmatings

16A Male Olive Baboon Displaying Full Threat


TerritorialityTerritoriality

Territoriality is protecting an area Territoriality is protecting an area against other individualsagainst other individuals

Red Deer Stags (males) compete for Red Deer Stags (males) compete for groups of hinds (females)groups of hinds (females)

Hinds only mate with one stagHinds only mate with one stag

Harem Master must be large and Harem Master must be large and powerful to fight off challengerspowerful to fight off challengers

Means less body fatMeans less body fat

May be more likely to starve in bad May be more likely to starve in bad times, and have shorter life expectancytimes, and have shorter life expectancy

18Competition Between Male Red Deer

19King Hussein and Family


Animal SocietiesAnimal Societies

Society - a cooperative organization Society - a cooperative organization that extends beyond sexual and that extends beyond sexual and parental interestsparental interests

21The Queen Ant


Altruism versus Self-InterestAltruism versus Self-InterestAltruismAltruism

Behavior that involves a reduction in Behavior that involves a reduction in direct fitnessdirect fitness

Loss may be compensated by an Loss may be compensated by an increase in indirect fitnessincrease in indirect fitness

Inclusive fitness includesInclusive fitness includes

Reproductive fitness of self, andReproductive fitness of self, and

Reproductive fitness of relativesReproductive fitness of relatives

Genetic relatedness may underlie Genetic relatedness may underlie many/most acts of apparent altruismmany/most acts of apparent altruism

23Inclusive Fitness


Communicative BehaviorCommunicative Behavior

Communicative BehaviorCommunicative BehaviorChemicalChemicalPheromones designate chemical signals Pheromones designate chemical signals that are passed between members of that are passed between members of the same speciesthe same species

AuditoryAuditoryFaster than chemical communicationFaster than chemical communicationCan be modified by loudness, pattern, Can be modified by loudness, pattern, repetition, and durationrepetition, and duration

VisualVisualUsed by species active during the dayUsed by species active during the dayContests between males make use of Contests between males make use of threat posturesthreat posturesSaves energy by avoiding fightingSaves energy by avoiding fighting

25Use of a Pheromone

26A Chimpanzee With a Researcher


Communicative BehaviorCommunicative Behavior

TactileTactile

Occurs when one animal touches Occurs when one animal touches anotheranother

Gull chicks peck at the parent’s beak in Gull chicks peck at the parent’s beak in order to induce the parent to feed themorder to induce the parent to feed them

Foraging honeybeesForaging honeybees

Return to the hive and perform a waggle Return to the hive and perform a waggle dance dance

Indicates the distance and direction of a Indicates the distance and direction of a food sourcefood source

28Grooming Among Baboons

29Communication Among Bees



SociobiologySociobiology

Applies the principles of evolutionary Applies the principles of evolutionary biology to the study of behavior in biology to the study of behavior in animalsanimals

Assumes individuals derive benefits from Assumes individuals derive benefits from living in a society that outweigh costsliving in a society that outweigh costs

Advantages includeAdvantages include reproductive successreproductive success

Predator avoidancePredator avoidance

Assistance in rearing offspringAssistance in rearing offspring

Finding foodFinding food



Societal DisadvantagesSocietal Disadvantages

CrowdingCrowding

Resource allocationResource allocation

Spread of diseaseSpread of disease


Nest HelpersNest Helpers

Green Wood-hoopoesGreen Wood-hoopoes

One breeding pair per flockOne breeding pair per flock

Other sexually mature members may Other sexually mature members may help feed and protect fledglings and help feed and protect fledglings and protect the home territoryprotect the home territory

Helper is contributing to survival of its Helper is contributing to survival of its own kinown kin

Helper is more likely than nonhelper to Helper is more likely than nonhelper to inherit parental territoryinherit parental territory


OutlineOutlineNature versus Nurture: Genetic InfluencesNature versus Nurture: Genetic Influences

Nature versus Nurture: Environmental Nature versus Nurture: Environmental InfluencesInfluences LearningLearning

Adaptive Mating BehaviorAdaptive Mating Behavior Female ChoiceFemale Choice Male CompetitionMale Competition Dominance HierarchyDominance Hierarchy TerritorialityTerritoriality Animal CommunicationAnimal Communication


Altruism versus Self-InterestAltruism versus Self-Interest

Animal BehaviorEnding Slide

Chapter 45

Animal Behavior Chapter 45. Animal Behavior 2Outline Nature versus Nurture: Genetic Influences...

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