51 Flashcards
behavioral ecology
studies how animal behavior is controlled and how it develops, evolves, and contributes to survival and reproductive success
the questions that can be posed about any behaivor can be divided generally into two classes: those that focus on __ and those that __
immediate stimulus and mechanism for the behavior;
explore how the behavior contributes to survival and reproduction
behavioral traits are part of an animal’s __
phenotype
most of what we call behavior is __
the visible result of an animal’s muscular activity
we can think of behavior as
everything an animal does and how it does it
when we observe a certain behavior, we may ask both __ and __ questions
proximate and ultimate
proximate questions focus on
the environmental stimuli, if any, that trigger a behavior, as well as the genetic, physiological, and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavioral act
ultimate questions address
the evolutionary significance of a behavior
how are proximate and ultimate questions conneted
proximate mechanisms produce behaviors that have evolved b/c they reflect fitness in some partiulcar way
ethology
scientific study of how animals behave, particulary in their natural environments
tinbergen’s 4 questions
- what is the mechanistic basis of the behavior, including chemical, anatomical, and physiological mechanisms?
- how does development of the animal, from zygote to mature individual, influence the behavior?
- what’s the evolutionary history of the behavior?
- how does the behavior contribute to survival and reproduction (fitness)?
fixed action pattern (FAP)
a sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that’s essential unchangeable and, once initiated, is usually carried to completion
FAP is triggered by __ __ __ known as __ __
external sensory stimulus known as a sign stimulus
imprinting is a type of behavior that
includes both learning and innate components and is generally irreversible
imprinting is distinguished from other types of learning by having a
sensitive period, a limited phase in an animal’s development that is the only time when certain behaviors can be learned
the tendency to respond is __; __ provides the __
innate; outside world; imprinting stimulus
imprinting stimulus
something to which the response will be directed
innate behavior
developmentally fixed behavior – nearly all individuals in the population exhibit virtually the same behavior, despite internal and external environmental differences during development and throughout life
directed movements
we refer to them as such because of the clear role of genes in the control of these movements
kinesis
a simple change in an activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus
taxis
more or less automatic, oriented movement toward (positive taxis) or away from (negative taxis) some stimulus
kinesis vs taxis
kinesis: non-directional
much of the social interaction btwn animals involves
transmitting info thru specialized behaviors called signals (aka displays)
signal
behavior that causes a change in another animal’s behavior
__, __, __ constitute animal communication
the transmission of, reception of, and response to signals
many signals are very efficient in
energy costs
animals communicate using __, __, __, __, and __ signals
visual auditory chemical (olfactory) tactile electrical
pheromones
chemical substances emitted by many animals that communicate thru odors