10. Animal behaviour

Question 1

Behavioral ecology

Answer 1

the study of the evolutionary basis for animal behavior resulting from ecological pressures

Question 2

What are the 4 ways Niko Tinbergen has to identify why an animal does something?

Answer 2

1. Causation
2. Development
3. Adaptive function
4. Evolutionary history

Question 3

Mechanism/causation

Answer 3

• physical morphology
• molecular mechanisms
• external stimuli

Question 4

Ontogeny/development

Answer 4

• sequential development over lifespan of individual

- change through learning

Question 5

Adaptive value/function

Answer 5

-utility of behavior in terms of increasing reproductive success

Question 6

Phylogeny/evolution

Answer 6

• which ancestors possessed trait

- what selective pressure has shaped behavior

Question 7

Proximate/how

Answer 7

• explanation in terms of immediate factors involved

- relevant and potentially measurable in current time

Question 8

Contemporary

Answer 8

-explanation of current form of a behavior in terms of present day

Question 9

Historical

Answer 9

explanation of current form of a behavior in terms of a sequence

Question 10

innate behavior

Answer 10

Behaviors that are instinctive and carried out regardless of earlier experience

Question 11

Learning and types

Answer 11

when an individuals experience can lead to changes in behavior

1. non-associative learning
2. associative learning

Question 12

Non-associative learning

Answer 12

Learning that occurs in the absence of any particular outcome (e.g., a reward / punishment)

Question 13

Associative learning

Answer 13

when an animal learns to link (or associate) two events (also called conditioning)

• classical conditioning
• operant conditioning

Question 14

Classical condtioning

Answer 14

A previously neutral stimulus (e.g., bell) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., salivating when you smell food) until the previously neutral stimulus elicits the response on its own.

Question 15

Operant conditioning

Answer 15

Behavior is rewarded (positively reinforced) or punished (negatively reinforced), changing the frequency or form of the behaviour

Question 16

Communication

Answer 16

the transfer of information between two individuals - the sender and the receiver

Question 17

Advertisement displays

Answer 17

Behaviors by which individuals draw attention of other sex to their status

Question 18

Territorial displays

Answer 18

Signals that communicate to potential intruders that a territory is occupied and defended

Question 19

Ritualized aggression

Answer 19

Communication which has evolved to settle disputes without engaging in costly fights

Question 20

Pursuit deterrent signals

Answer 20

Displays or calls by prey that communicate to a predator that it has been detected and is unlikely to successfully capture prey

Question 21

Alarm signals

Answer 21

Signals that warn conspecifics (esp. close kin) of nearby predators

Question 22

Warning signals

Answer 22

Typically conspicuous patterns that indicate unpalatability or noxiousness to potential predators